Definition: Having more income than expenditures; to be making a profit. This idiom can be compared with the expression in the red. While
in the red means to be in debt, in the black means the opposite. Both expressions originated from the record keeping practices of business, where financial losses were written in red and financial profits were written in black. In the black originated in the first half of the 1900s. See also the phrase
in the red. Nisha: Have you heard anything about the school’s financial difficulties? Alan: No. Why? What have you heard? Nisha: I heard that it hasn’t been making a profit for years now, and that they are deeply in debt. Alan: Really? Nisha: Yeah. It might even have to close if it can’t make more money. Alan: That seems hard to believe. We have to
pay a lot of money for tuition. Also, as far as I know, the university is in the black. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Nisha: I hope you’re right. Son: Hey,
Dad, I think we should get Wi-Fi for the restaurant. Dad: No. Son: Why not? Most restaurants have free Wi-Fi nowadays. It could help bring us more business! Dad: We own a takeout restaurant. People aren’t inside long enough to need the wifi. Also, you know how hard we’ve been trying to stay in the black. We can’t waste money on something that no one will use. Son: People would use it while waiting for their order to
be ready. Dad: I don’t think so. The answer is no. When you’re the owner, you can get Wi-Fi. Now, do your homework. In an article about company earnings, the idiom is used to describe how one bank was in debt but is no longer. In this excerpt about Asian stocks, the idiom is used to show that Asian shares are rising and showing a profit in the first week of the year 2017. The English phrase in the black means that a business is earning more money than it is spending or has more money than it owes. Contents
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Search IDM in the black Definitions and Synonymsphrase DEFINITIONS1
Definition and synonyms of in the black from the online English dictionary from Macmillan Education. This is the British English definition of in the black.View American English definition of in the black. Change your default dictionary to American English. See also main entry: blackSee also main entry: black ThesaurusTrending Wordsfor -6.2% blue movie -26.9% take on 4.9% NB -5.6% put off -6.4% Discover Synonyms of the monthgift
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FOLLOW US Twitter Facebook Join Macmillan Dictionary on Twitter and Facebook for daily word facts, quizzes and language news. © Macmillan Education Limited 2009–2022 Where did the term in the black originate?Origin of In the Black
Both expressions originated from the record keeping practices of business, where financial losses were written in red and financial profits were written in black. In the black originated in the first half of the 1900s. See also the phrase in the red.
What does it mean to keep someone in the black?phrase. If a person or an organization is in the black, they do not owe anyone any money.
Does being in the red mean you're in debt?What Does the Phrase in the Red Mean? The phrase “in the red” means that business is in debt and owes money. The red ink signifies financial losses for the business. It means that you have more expenses and bills than the money to pay them.
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