red zone

[ red zohn ]

noun

1. Football. an unofficial term for the area at either end of the field between the 20-yard line and the goal line, considered critical for defense: Compare end zone ( def 1 ).

   The team’s top-notch defense has allowed opponents to score a touchdown on only 39 percent of trips inside the red zone.

2. an area colored red on a dial or other instrument of measurement, alerting the viewer to unsafe conditions when the needle or indicator enters it:

   To avoid engine damage, do not run the engine with the tachometer needle in the red zone!

3. a restricted area, sometimes specially labeled or marked with red:

   Do not enter the red zone without donning proper PPE.

4. any range of conditions considered unsafe or likely to generate serious problems, such as for physical or financial health:

   Watch that you don’t end up in the red zone with all that stress and so little sleep.

   Some countries are so far into the red zone with debt that marginal changes in repayment terms make no difference.

Word History and Origins

Origin of red zone¹

First recorded in 1940–45; 1970–75 red zone fordef 1

Example Sentences

Yet they remained firm against the Bengals’ dangerous offense, holding Cincinnati to five of 17 on third down tries and forcing field goals on two first-half red zone drives that helped tilt the game early.

From Los Angeles Times

Herbert scored his first rushing touchdown in more than a year last week, improvising on a fourth down in the red zone that was called for the quarterback to rush out wide to the right side.

From Los Angeles Times

Later, he fumbled in the red zone.

From Los Angeles Times

The Rams need to be more disciplined, more consistent and better in the red zone.

From Los Angeles Times

The Cornhuskers then shrugged off a fourth-down sack in the red zone and an injury to Raiola to score another touchdown that shaved their deficit to seven points.

From Los Angeles Times