States which voted for different parties in two of the last four presidential elections are called "Swing States", and are usually coloured purple, a mix of red and blue. Social and special interest groups Such names as Red Club (a bar), Red Carpet (a discothèque) or Red Cottbus and Club Red (event locations) suggest liveliness and excitement. The Red Hat Society is a social group founded in 1998 for women 50 and over. Use of the color red to call attention to an emergency situation is evident in the names of such organizations as the Red Cross (humanitarian aid), Red Hot Organization (AIDS support), and the Red List of Threatened Species (of IUCN). In reference to humans, term "red" is often used in the West to describe the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Idioms Many idiomatic expressions exploit the various connotations of red: Expressing emotion "to see red" (to be angry or aggressive) "to have red ears / a red face" (to be embarrassed) "to paint the town red" (to have an enjoyable evening, usually with a generous amount of eating, drinking, dancing) Giving warning "to raise a red flag" (to signal that something is problematic) "like a red rag to a bull" (to cause someone to be enraged) "to be in the red" (to be losing money, from the accounting convention of writing deficits and losses in red ink) Calling attention "a red letter day" (a special or important event, from the medieval custom of printing the dates of saints' days and holy days in red ink.) "to roll out the red carpet" (to formally welcome an important guest) "to give red-carpet treatment" (to treat someone as important or special) "to catch someone red-handed" (to catch or discover someone doing something bad or wrong) Other idioms "to tie up in red tape". In England red tape was used by lawyers and government officials to identify important documents. It became a term for excessive bureaucratic regulation. It was popularized in the 19th century by the writer Thomas Carlyle, who complained about "red-tapism". "red herring". A false clue that leads investigators off the track. Refers to the practice of using a fragrant smoked fish to distract hunting or tracking dogs from the track they are meant to follow. "red ink" (to show a business loss) See also Blushing Lists of colors Little Red Riding Hood Red flag (politics) Red pigments References