red meat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “red meat” mean?
the dark-coloured meat of mammals such as beef, lamb, and pork, as opposed to white meat like poultry or fish.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
the dark-coloured meat of mammals such as beef, lamb, and pork, as opposed to white meat like poultry or fish.
something that strongly appeals to or satisfies a particular group, especially controversial or provocative material in politics or media.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In US English, 'red meat' is frequently used in political contexts ('red meat for the base'). In British English, this figurative use is also understood but slightly less frequent.
Connotations
Health/dietary discussions (negative connotation) vs. political/marketing discussions (strong, energizing connotation).
Frequency
Higher frequency in American media, especially political commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “red meat” in a Sentence
[N of red meat][Adj. + red meat][V + red meat + to + audience]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “red meat” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- red-meat issue
American English
- red-meat politics
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the context of food industry, agriculture, and marketing ('The report forecasts rising demand for red meat in Asia.').
Academic
Used in nutritional science, public health, and agricultural studies ('The study correlated high red meat intake with increased risk.').
Everyday
Common in dietary choices and cooking ('We're trying to cut down on red meat for health reasons.').
Technical
Used in medicine (cardiology, oncology) and animal science ('The myoglobin content defines red meat.').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “red meat”
- Using 'red meat' as a countable noun ('a red meat'). Incorrect: 'I ate a red meat.' Correct: 'I ate some red meat.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily an uncountable noun. You talk about 'some red meat' or 'a lot of red meat,' not 'a red meat' (unless using it adjectivally, e.g., 'a red meat dish').
'Red meat' refers to mammalian meat (beef, lamb). 'Dark meat' refers to the darker parts of poultry like chicken thighs and legs, which have more myoglobin than breast meat but are still classified as 'white meat' overall.
Yes, in its figurative sense ('red meat for the base') it is positive from the speaker's perspective, meaning it strongly satisfies and energises a target audience. In dietary contexts, it is often neutral or negative.
It's called 'red meat' because of its reddish colour when raw, which comes from a high concentration of the protein myoglobin in the muscle tissues of mammals.
the dark-coloured meat of mammals such as beef, lamb, and pork, as opposed to white meat like poultry or fish.
Red meat is usually formal to neutral in register.
Red meat: in British English it is pronounced /ˌred ˈmiːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɛd ˈmit/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “throw red meat to the base”
- “a red meat issue”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RED traffic light = STOP, some diets say STOP eating RED MEAT.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC IS RED MEAT (It feeds and energizes a passionate group).
Practice
Quiz
In a nutritional context, which of the following is NOT considered 'red meat'?