- To become extremely angry, suddenly and intensely.
Explanation
Origin
- The phrase possibly originates from the sport of bullfighting, where a red cape (muleta) is used to provoke the bull, making it charge in anger.
- Another theory links it to the physiological response of anger, where blood rushes to the face, potentially causing a flushed (red) appearance or even affecting vision in extreme rage ('red mist').
- The expression dates back to the early 20th century.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Flip out
- Go ape / Go apeshit (Vulgar)
- Lose it / Lose one's shit (Vulgar)
- Be pissed off / Be pissed (Vulgar Note: 'pissed' means drunk in UK/Aus slang)
- Have a fit
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Go fucking ballistic
- Be mad as hell
Milder/Formal:
- Became extremely angry
- Was enraged
- Lost composure
- Reacted furiously
Situational Appropriateness
- Mostly informal. While the meaning is clear, describing extreme anger this way might sound a bit dramatic or unprofessional in very formal settings.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Should not be taken literally; it refers to intense anger, not a literal change in vision color.
Examples
- When he saw the damage to his car, he saw red.
- Don't mention her ex-boyfriend; she just sees red.
- I try to stay calm, but incompetence makes me see red.
Dialogue
Anna: How did Mark react when you told him you lost the client?
Ben: He just saw red. Started yelling and slammed his fist on the desk.
Anna: Oh wow. I've never seen him *that* angry before.
Ben: Me neither. It was intense.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Just saw someone litter right in front of me. Made me see red! 😠#Angry #Environment
- Post: My computer crashed and I lost hours of work. Literally seeing red right now. #TechFail #Frustrated
- Comment: Mentioning politics at the dinner table made my uncle see red instantly.
Response Patterns
- Whoa, calm down.
- What happened to make you so angry?
- I can understand why you'd be furious.
- Try to take a deep breath.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone says they (or someone else) saw red:
- One might ask What triggered it? or What did they do then?
- Actions might involve trying to calm the angry person down or removing the source of the anger.
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes a reaction within a narrative or discussion.
Intonation
- Strong emphasis on see and red. SEE RED.
- Usually spoken with intensity or to emphasize the extreme level of anger.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood by most generations.
Regional Variations
- Common in most English-speaking regions.