paint the town red
Meaning
To go out and celebrate wildly, often drinking, partying, and having an exciting night out.
Origin
Often traced to 19th-century Britain; a popular story links it to the Marquis of Waterford’s rowdy night out in 1837, later generalizing to mean boisterous partying.
Notes
Upbeat, lively tone implying a big, sometimes rowdy celebration (often with drinking/nightlife). Casual spoken/written use; may sound immature in formal contexts.
Examples
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After finals, we decided to paint the town red and celebrate all night.
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It’s been a rough month, so let’s paint the town red this Friday.
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When my sister got her promotion, we painted the town red with dinner and dancing.
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They flew to Vegas to paint the town red for his bachelor weekend.
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I don’t paint the town red as often as I used to, but tonight felt special.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed phrase: usually “paint the town red.” Verb inflects (paint/painted/painting). Often used with “go out and” or as a plan (“Let’s paint the town red”).
Synonyms
- go on the town
- go wild
- party hard
- paint the town
- live it up
Antonyms
- stay in
- have a quiet night
- keep a low profile