Idiom
Paint the Town Red: Origin and Meaning
Meaning
to celebrate in a crazy or wild way
Origin
The precise origin of this idiom is disputed. Some believe it refers to setting something on fire; others think it is because the colour red is associated with violence. Other people believe that this expression comes from 1837 when the Marquis of Waterford and a group of friends ran riot in Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray, painting the town’s toll-bar and several buildings with red paint. The Marquis was a notorious hooligan who was known to the public as ‘the Mad Marquis’. His crimes include fighting, stealing, breaking windows, fighting duels, and hunting people with bloodhounds.
The precise origin of this idiom is disputed. Some believe it refers to setting something on fire; others think it is because the colour red is associated with violence. Other people believe that this expression comes from 1837 when the Marquis of Waterford and a group of friends ran riot in Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray, painting the town’s toll-bar and several buildings with red paint. The Marquis was a notorious hooligan who was known to the public as ‘the Mad Marquis’. His crimes include fighting, stealing, breaking windows, fighting duels, and hunting people with bloodhounds.Examples
Anna’s just got a promotion; she’s going to paint the town red with her colleagues.
We’re going to paint the town red tonight, because I’m turning 20 years old!
Trevor got a new job so we’re painting the town red tonight!
We’re going to paint the town red tonight, because I’m turning 20 years old!
Trevor got a new job so we’re painting the town red tonight!
