red ink

• Terme métaphorique désignant des pertes financières ou une dette, issu de la pratique comptable traditionnelle consistant à utiliser l'encre rouge pour indiquer des nombres négatifs ou un déficit.

A metaphorical term referring to financial losses or debt, derived from the traditional accounting practice of using red ink to indicate negative numbers or deficits.

1. B2formal

   A term used to describe a financial loss or negative balance, often recorded in red ink in accounting books.

   chiffres rouges

   • The company has been in the red ink for three consecutive quarters.
   • We need to cut costs to avoid more red ink this year.
   • The red ink on the balance sheet worried the investors.

2. Correction or editingA2informal

   Red ink is traditionally used by teachers or editors to mark errors or corrections on written work.

   correction à l'encre rouge

   • The teacher covered my essay in red ink.
   • His manuscript was full of red ink from the editor.
   • She used red ink to highlight the mistakes.