red time
- noun
:
tiempo crítico
- The company entered red time when quarterly profits dropped sharply.
Examples
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With the product launch so close, the team knew they were in red time.
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Traders become especially cautious during red time in volatile markets.
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We are currently in a red time for our finances.
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During red times, we need to cut unnecessary expenses.
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The company entered red time when quarterly profits dropped sharply.
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Traders become especially cautious during red time in volatile markets.
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With the product launch so close, the team knew they were in red time.
Synonyms
∞
3.1
A very dangerous or difficult time when quick decisions are needed
28
6.5
A very serious emergency that needs immediate action
25
6.3
A business or person that owes more money than they have
24
4.7
A strong warning that serious danger is coming and people must act now
How Urgent
Surface Forms
Morphology
red + time
The idea of a period marked by danger or urgency can be partially inferred because 'red' commonly signals danger/alertness or financial loss (e.g. 'in the red') and 'time' denotes a period, so a learner who knows both words could guess a general sense of a crisis period. However, 'red time' is not a standard collocation in English and requires a metaphorical extension of 'red', so the precise nuance (urgency vs. financial loss) is not fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Red time may come from the simple idea of marking dangerous moments with red. If accounts are shown 'in the red' or a red light warns danger, a period shown in red becomes a dangerous time, so red time means 'a period of high danger, pressure, or financial loss'.