Money problems · Money and prices
be in the red
owe more than held
If an account or business is in the red, it has a negative balance or is spending more than it earns.
This vs that
My account is in the red.
My account is in the black.
Hear it in real life
Can you afford the deposit?
Not yet—I'm already in the red.
After the car repairs, my account was in the red for two weeks.
Which sounds natural?
Psst — which one would you actually say?
In the red is the familiar idiom for this financial situation.
The mistake everyone makes
Not: My account is in ‸ red after Christmas.
Say: My account is in the red after Christmas.
Use the article the in this idiom.
Say it together
Whole chunks natives use with it.
be in the red
My account is in the red again.
The business was in the red during its first year.
Phrases to borrow
More for talking about money problems.
be short of money
We’re a bit short of money until payday.
fall into debt
Many people fall into debt after losing their jobs.
Money problems words
Money and prices · Money problems: the words around “be in the red”.
More connectionsMore money problems words6
More money problems words
Your turn: say it out loud
I'm a bit in the red at the moment.
Say it out loud two or three times, until it feels like yours.
be in the red
owe more than held
“After the car repairs, my account was in the red for two weeks.”
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