red light

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

red light (plural red lights)

1. A warning light, especially as a traffic signal indicating stop.

   We ran three red lights on the way to the hospital.

2. A sign of a brothel.
   • 1978, Sting (lyrics and music), “Roxanne”:

     Roxanne, you don't have to put on your red light.

3. (idiomatic) Denial to proceed; a ruling out of any possibility.

• (traffic signal for stop): stoplight, stop light

• third leg

Borrowed from English red-light district.

• IPA^(key): /ʁɛd lajt/

red light m (plural red lights)

1. (Canada) red-light district

   Synonym: quartier chaud