red devil: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 - Rare / SpecialisedInformal, Slang
Quick answer
What does “red devil” mean?
A common nickname, typically used in informal contexts, referring to something or someone with a red colour and a dangerous, energetic, or mischievous quality. It often denotes a specific brand of sedative pill (Second), a type of sports team, or a feisty person.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common nickname, typically used in informal contexts, referring to something or someone with a red colour and a dangerous, energetic, or mischievous quality. It often denotes a specific brand of sedative pill (Second), a type of sports team, or a feisty person.
Can refer to: 1) A street name for a specific red-coloured barbiturate/sedative (Second). 2) A nickname for sports teams (often with red uniforms). 3) A nickname for an energetic, troublesome, or passionate person or animal. 4) A term for a type of predatory fish or insect.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slightly more established in American English due to the specific drug reference (Second) and sports team names. In UK, it's understood but may be more commonly associated with sports (e.g., Manchester United nickname) or generic descriptive use.
Connotations
Similar core connotations of danger/mischief in both, but the drug association is stronger in AmE.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, but the phrase is recognised. More likely to be encountered in AmE in contexts of drug culture or college sports.
Grammar
How to Use “red devil” in a Sentence
be called a/the red devilbe known as the red deviltake (a) red devil(s)refer to X as a red devilVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “red devil” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No standard verb use)
American English
- (No standard verb use)
adverb
British English
- (No adverb use)
American English
- (No adverb use)
adjective
British English
- (No standard adjective use. Attributive use only as part of the compound noun, e.g., 'Red Devil fans')
American English
- (No standard adjective use. Attributive use only as part of the compound noun, e.g., 'a red devil pill')
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare; might appear in sociological papers on drug culture or sports history.
Everyday
Very rare in polite conversation. Could be used descriptively ("That toddler is a little red devil!") or in specific subcultures.
Technical
In pharmacology, a historical slang term for secobarbital (Second). In sports journalism, a nickname for certain teams.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “red devil”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “red devil”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “red devil”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Assuming it only refers to a person.
- Overusing it as a simple adjective-noun combination ('a red, devilish car' is not 'a red devil').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a compound noun used as slang or an informal nickname. It does not appear in standard dictionaries as a single lexical entry with a fixed definition.
The meaning is context-dependent. Historically, a key meaning was the street name for the sedative Second. Today, it is perhaps most widely recognised as a sports team nickname, like for Manchester United.
Yes, but it is very informal and implies the person is mischievous, energetic in a troublesome way, or has a fierce temper. It can be mildly humorous or slightly critical.
Yes. 'A red devil' is a descriptive, generic use. 'The Red Devil' (capitalised) is usually a proper noun, a specific nickname for a team, a plane, or a character.
A common nickname, typically used in informal contexts, referring to something or someone with a red colour and a dangerous, energetic, or mischievous quality. It often denotes a specific brand of sedative pill (Second), a type of sports team, or a feisty person.
Red devil is usually informal, slang in register.
Red devil: in British English it is pronounced /ˌred ˈdev.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɛd ˈdɛv.əl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[It's like] letting a red devil loose in a china shop.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a small, bright red cartoon devil causing chaos – this captures the colour and the troublesome nature of the term.
Conceptual Metaphor
DANGER/EVIL IS RED + A MISCHIEVOUS PERSON/THING IS A DEVIL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'red devil' LEAST likely to be used?