"Paint the Town Red" Meaning, Origin and Examples • 7ESL

Contents

You may have heard someone using the saying ‘paint the town red’ during a conversation, but what does this phrase mean? We will take a look at its meaning along with finding out a little bit about where the phrase first came from. We will also look at how the term can be used in a day to day conversation.

Paint the Town Red Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

“Paint the town red” means to go out and have a fun, wild time, often involving celebration and partying.

“Paint the Town Red” Meaning

The phrase “paint the town red” means to go out and have a lively, fun, and wild time, usually involving celebration, partying, or socializing. It suggests engaging in energetic, often carefree activities, such as visiting bars, clubs, or restaurants, with the intention of having an exciting and memorable experience.

For example:

“After finishing their exams, the students decided to paint the town red and celebrate all night.”

It’s a colorful way to describe letting loose and enjoying oneself, especially in a group setting.

Origin of this Idiom

The origin of the idiom “paint the town red” is somewhat debated, but one popular theory traces it back to a wild night in 1837 in the English town of Melton Mowbray. The Marquis of Waterford, known for his rowdy behavior, and his friends allegedly went on a drunken spree, vandalizing the town and painting parts of it red, including doors and street signs. This notorious event may have led to the phrase’s association with wild, celebratory behavior.

Another theory suggests that the idiom comes from the imagery of painting the town in vibrant red, symbolizing excitement, energy, and festivities. Over time, it became synonymous with having an extravagant, lively time.

Usage of “Paint the Town Red”

You can use the phrase “paint the town red” in situations where you’re talking about:

Celebrating a special occasion:

When someone achieves something significant, like a promotion, graduation, or birthday.
Example: “After her promotion, she wanted to paint the town red with her friends.”

Having a fun night out:

When planning an exciting or lively evening with friends, involving activities like dancing, dining, or socializing.
Example: “We’ve been working hard all week; let’s paint the town red this Friday night!”

Letting loose after a stressful time:

After a challenging period, it can be used to describe going out to relieve stress and have fun.
Example: “After finals, we’re going to paint the town red and forget about our worries.”

Vacation or travel:

When exploring new cities or places, planning to enjoy the nightlife or cultural experiences.
Example: “When we get to New York, we’re going to paint the town red!”

In general, use this phrase when talking about going out for an enjoyable, lively, and often carefree time with others.

Related Terms to “Paint the Town Red”

Let loose – To relax and enjoy oneself, often by engaging in fun activities.
Live it up – To enjoy life in a carefree or extravagant way, often by partying or celebrating.
Party hard – To celebrate or engage in social activities energetically and enthusiastically.
Have a blast – To have a very fun and enjoyable time.
Hit the town – To go out and enjoy what the city or town has to offer, often related to nightlife.
Tear it up – To have a wild and exciting time, often associated with parties or nightlife.
Cut loose – To behave in a relaxed or uncontrolled way, often to have fun.
Paint the town – A shortened version of the original idiom, meaning the same thing—going out to celebrate.

Other Ways to Say this Phrase

There are other ways in which you can say the phrase ‘paint the town red.’

Here are some examples of things you might say in it’s place.

Kick up your heels
Go on a bender

“Paint the Town Red” Examples

Examples in Statements

This is a statement being made by a friend to another friend.

‘It’s my birthday next week, we should go out and paint the town red.’

Here is a statement made in a blog post.

‘For those who want to paint the town red, London is an ideal place to go.’

Other examples:

Tonight, we’re going to paint the town red!
Today is Friday! Let’s paint the town red tonight.
With so much money, we can really paint the town red.
I’ve just won a prize on the Premium Bonds . Let’s go out and paint the town red!
Richard has passed his exam. We are going to paint the town red tonight.

Conversation Examples

If you would like to see how the term ‘paint the town red’ can be used in a conversation, here are some examples to demonstrate that.

The first conversation is taking place between two sisters.

Person 1: “I think we should take mom out this weekend and treat her.”
Person 2: “What were you thinking of doing?”
Person 1: “I think we should take her out and paint the town red.”

This next conversation is occurring between a boss and an employee.

Person 1: “You have worked really hard this week.”
Person 2: “Yes, i am so tired now but I have to go and meet some friends for drinks tonight.”
Person 1: “You deserve a night off, never mind being tired, go and paint the town red.”

About
Latest Posts

Liam Daniel

At 7ESL, we use advanced AI to help people learn English. Our tools and resources make it easier to speak and write well, supporting learners at every level.