crimson tide
1
8.6
- noun
- /ˈkrɪmzən taɪd/
- The sunset created a beautiful crimson tide across the horizon.
Examples
-
A crimson tide swept across the sky during the spectacular sunset.
-
During the ceremony, a crimson tide of emotions washed over the crowd.
-
The city was caught up in a crimson tide of celebration after the championship win.
-
The poet described her anger as a crimson tide rising within her.
-
The sunset painted the sky in a crimson tide, creating a breathtaking view.
-
After hearing the news, a crimson tide of excitement swept through the crowd.
-
As the leaves changed color in autumn, a crimson tide covered the forest floor.
Synonyms
22
3.6
A sudden very strong emotion or reaction that affects many people
1
8.1
A bright red color that fills the sky at sunrise or sunset
How Intense
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'crimson' (deep red) + 'tide' (a movement or surge): a wave or flood of red is a straightforward compositional image. The extended metaphorical sense (a surge of emotion/enthusiasm) follows the common cross-linguistic pattern of using 'tide' for a surge, so a B1 learner who knows both words would likely infer the MWE's meanings.
Etymology
Crimson tide comes from the image of a high tide of deep red crimson, like the sea or sky suddenly turning red. So, it now means 'a surge' of red color or of strong feeling.