From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbe in the redbe in the redinformalBFOWE to owe more money than you have OPP be in the black → overdrawn This is the airline’s fourth straight year in the red. → red
Examples from the Corpus
be in the red• After five quarters in the red, the business will soon be profitable.• Overseas payments could keep the country deep in the red for the next decade.• My son's bank account is usually in the red.• The oil gauge is in the red.• The state is already $3 billion in the red this year.• You will pay interest when you are in the red, plus a charge for cheques and an annual service fee. 