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The business term "in the red" originated from the early days of accounting when negative numbers were recorded in the books with red ink. To be "in the red" is to be losing money or in debt.

"In the black," similarly, means to be making money or a profit.

The first use of the phrase in printed materials was published in 1926 in the book "Wise-Crack Dictionary" by George Maines and Bruce Grant.

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