Paint The Town Red

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Paint The Town Red : Phrases



Meaning:

At the end of final exams college students have traditionally gone out to
paint the town red. College students traditionally also do this at the throughout the semester.


Example:

The B.C. motor vehicle test is tough, but my car
passed with flying colours.


Origin:

This phrase originated with the Roman Empire. Roman soldiers used to wash the walls of a newly-conquered town or city with the blood of the vanquished. This was usually accomplished with a great degree of gusto, hence the term being applied to a great night on the town.

Alternative: In the 19th century, the section of town where brothels and saloons were located was known as the
red light district. So a group of lusty cowhands out for a night on the town might well take it into their heads to make the whole town red.

Alternative:
Paint the town red is a reference to the money spent in the process. The party goer ends up in the red paying for the celebration. Related phrase: In the red.

Alternative: A joke that the resulting blood-shot eyes resulting from partying and drinking might actually color one's field of vision red.
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