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red light

red light

2 1.7
A warning that something is wrong and you should stop or be careful
  • noun
  • /rɛd laɪt/
translation icon : luz roja
  • Well, probably the, the biggest red light that I had to hit early on was the commercial side red light.
  • flashing red light

So I'm hitting all the back roads right now with every single red light, with every stop sign, with every bump, speed bump.

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Examples

  • You still don't know what the red light means?

  • However, I am suspicious of anyone who claims that the Bible is inerrant because that is a red light for me.

    Blog text (3)
  • So now every time you hear yourself using the word should, let a red light go off in your mind.

  • The little red light on the top is on.

  • That was a red light.

  • The red light is on!

  • And the feature I like the most, it warns you of red light cameras, not that I run red lights all that often.

  • To a homicide detective, this was like a flashing red light and an alarm bell.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • They jogged a couple of blocks, arrived in the small red-light district adjacent to the spaceport, and saw the sign "Lucky Lou Enterprises, Ship Storage, Maintenance, and Repair."

    Fiction book (1991)
  • When the traffic signal shows a red light, cars must come to a complete stop.

Synonyms

warning light
vsred light
7 3.2

A light that turns on in vehicles or machines to show a problem

is a broader stop or caution signal used literally and figuratively
red flag
vsred light
7 3.7

A red cloth flown to warn people of danger

is a general stop or caution signal used literally and figuratively
danger signal
vsred light
1 3.7

A sign that something dangerous may happen

is a specific stop or caution sign for imminent harm

Antonyms

46 2.3

A signal that lets you start or continue something, for example a traffic light

How Urgent

alarm
842 1.0
red light
2 1.7
warning
1.0

Surface Forms

red light singular
red lights plural

Morphology

red + light

The meaning 'a warning or signal to stop/proceed with caution' is directly derivable from combining 'red' (a color conventionally associated with danger/stop) and 'light' (a signal or lamp). This color‑signal composition is cross‑linguistically common and follows familiar traffic and warning conventions, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will generally understand both the literal and common figurative uses.

Etymology

Red light comes from that road signal: when people see a bright red light, they know danger or must stop, so the phrase is used as a short 'warning sign' to be careful or stop an action.