red-hot

[ adjective red-hot; noun red-hot ]

adjective

1. red with heat; very hot.
2. creating much excitement, demand, or discussion:

   The new toy robot is a red-hot item this Christmas.

3. violent; furious:

   red-hot anger.

4. characterized by intense excitement, enthusiasm, or passion.
5. very fresh or new; most recent:

   red-hot tips on the stock market.

noun

1. a person who has great fervor or intensity, as for a goal or cause.
2. Informal. a hot dog.
3. a small cinnamon-flavored candy.

red-hot

adjective

1. (esp of metal) heated to the temperature at which it glows red

   iron is red-hot at about 500°C

2. extremely hot

   the stove is red-hot, so don't touch it

3. keen, excited, or eager; enthusiastic
4. furious; violent

   red-hot anger

5. very recent or topical

   red-hot information

6. slang.
   extreme, unreasonable, or unfair

   the charges are red-hot

Word History and Origins

Origin of red-hot¹

Middle English word dating back to 1325–75

Example Sentences

He says he bought the home with tenants already living there, and didn’t want to turf them out in what he calls a "red hot" property market.

From BBC

Metals get softer when they are heated, which is how blacksmiths can form iron into complex shapes by heating it red hot.

From Science Daily

Dons have been red hot at home of late.

From BBC

Christopher Nolan and Martin Scorsese, the directors of Oppenheimer and Killers of the Flower Moon respectively, were placed close together in the front row, between two red hot acting contenders.

From BBC

By May 1971, “All in the Family” was, in Lear’s words, “red hot” and rising in the ratings.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• defamatory
• disgraceful
• heinous
• outrageous
• scurrilous
• shameful
• shocking
• slanderous
• unseemly
• untrue