Paint the Town Red: Origin and Meaning

to celebrate in a crazy or wild way

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.

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!