the red carpet

the red carpet

A welcome or reception for someone marked by great or elaborate hospitality, ceremony, or fanfare. Often used after the phrasal verbs "roll/put out." Can be hyphenated if used as a modifier before a noun. The theater rolled out the red carpet for the duke, who was attending the opening night of the play that evening. We're just popping by for a cup of tea and a quick catch-up, no need to put out the red carpet! Since Jake is their only child, Robert and Sarah give him the red-carpet treatment whenever he returns home from college.See also: carpet, red

red carpet

Honorary treatment, lavish hospitality, as in We'll have to get out the red carpet for the President's visit. This term comes from the literal practice of rolling out a carpet to welcome a royal or other esteemed guest, and indeed is often put as roll out the red carpet. [Early 1900s] See also: carpet, red

the red carpet

used in reference to privileged treatment of a distinguished visitor.See also: carpet, red

the red ˈcarpet

a very special welcome given to an important visitor: When I went to my girlfriend’s house for the first time, her family really put out the red carpet for me.It was an unofficial visit so the guests didn’t get the usual red carpet treatment.A strip of red carpet is usually laid on the ground for an important visitor to walk on when he or she arrives.See also: carpet, red