Paint Town

Posted by Barry on January 20, 2000

In Reply to: Paint Town posted by Frankie on January 20, 2000

: Does anyone know the origin of the phrase "Let's paint the town red". I always understood it to mean to go out (as on a weekend night)to town and have fun, get crazy, wild, bar hop or stay out all night....etc.

It has it origins in wild and riotous behaviour usually undertaken by young males where lots of alcohol was consumed and many a fight took place resulting in the spillage of a considerable quantity of blood. Blood, being of a rich red colour (at least when fresh), gave rise to the expression as the rueful combatants and the more sober citizens reviewed the blood stained sidewalks, walls and other pieces of street furniture.