- Operating at a profit; having a positive balance; not being in debt.
Explanation
Origin
- Derived from the traditional accounting practice of recording profits or positive financial figures using black ink.
- This contrasts with losses recorded in red ink (in the red).
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Making bank (Implies significant profit)
- In the green (Less common than in the black, but used sometimes as a direct opposite to in the red)
- Doing well / Doing alright (financially)
- Sitting pretty (Implies a comfortable, secure financial position)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- (Less common to use vulgarity for simple profitability, more often for *large* profits, e.g., Making fucktons of money, Absolutely killing it).
Milder/Formal:
- Achieving profitability
- Generating positive cash flow / Net positive income
- Financially stable / Financially healthy
- Assets exceed liabilities
Situational Appropriateness
- Appropriate in both informal and formal contexts, especially business and finance.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Straightforward financial idiom, directly contrasting with in the red.
- Ensure the association between black and profitability/positive balance is clear.
Examples
- After a difficult year, the business is finally back in the black.
- It feels good to see my savings account in the black after paying off my credit card.
Dialogue
A: How did the fundraising event go? Did we make enough?
B: Yes! We exceeded our goal. The project finances are officially in the black!
A: That's brilliant! All that hard work paid off.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Woohoo! My side hustle is officially in the black for the first time! Thanks to all my amazing customers! #SmallBusiness #Profit #Milestone
- Business News: Analysts predict the company will be back in the black by the end of the fiscal year.
- Personal Finance Blog Post Title: 5 Steps to Get Your Budget Back in the Black.
Response Patterns
- Congratulations: That's fantastic news! / Well done!
- Relief: Phew, that's a relief! / Finally!
- Inquiry: Great! What led to the improvement? (If applicable)
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
- Celebrating the positive financial state.
- Discussing how profitability was achieved or how the positive balance was restored.
- Planning for future financial stability or growth based on the current positive status.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Used to report or describe a positive financial status.
Intonation
- Usually said with relief, satisfaction, pride, or general positivity.
- Stress on BLACK. in the BLACK.
Generation Differences
- Standard financial terminology, understood across generations dealing with finance.
Regional Variations
- Standard across all major English-speaking regions.