A2Colors
Ein rotes Tuch sein
In German
Ein rotes Tuch sein
ain ro-tes tukh zain
🇬🇧 English
🇪🇸 Español
🇮🇹 Italiano
📖 Literal Translation
To be a red cloth
💡 Meaning
To be a sensitive or provocative topic/person that causes anger or extreme irritation.
🌍 Equivalent:"To be a red rag to a bull"
📜 Origin:Derived from the belief that bulls are enraged by the color red, a common misconception (it's the movement of the cloth). The idiom refers to anything that instantly provokes anger.
Example Sentences
1
Das Thema Gehalt ist für ihn ein rotes Tuch.
The topic of salary is a red rag to him (a red cloth).
2
Jede Kritik an seiner Arbeit ist für ihn ein rotes Tuch.
Any criticism of his work is a red rag to him (a red cloth).