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English Idiom
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Red and its phrases 有关红色的短语
Red is used in many American expressions. It can be used to show happiness, as in a "red-letter day" (值得纪念、特别快乐的日子). This is a day when something special happens. The expression is probably based on church customs. For almost 600 years, church calendars have been marked with red to show special holydays. Today's calendars are still marked that way with the dates of holidays and special days printed in red.
The expression "red-letter day" is often heard in everyday life. "A red-letter day" is a day that is especially happy. It may be a day that you have long waited for, a wedding day, for example. Or it may be a day with a happy surprise. You might tell a friend that yesterday was a red-letter day, because you won some money in the state lottery (彩票).
"Rolling out the red carpet" (举行隆重的欢迎仪式) is another commonly heard expression. Traditionally, a red carpet is placed on the ground to welcome the visiting leader of another country. It is a way of honouring the important visitor. So the expression "rolling out the red carpet" describes an especially warm welcome of any kind. You may give someone the royal treatment, even if the person is not king or queen.
A city may "roll out the red carpet" for its baseball team, when the team arrives home after winning a championship. A group of supporters go to the airport to greet the team. The red-carpet welcome includes a lot of cheering by thousands of fans, a parade, music and speeches of praise by local politicians.(Part I)
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