In the 19th century, what did it mean if you painted all the buildings in a town in red paint?

looney_tunes

Phrase: "Paint the town red" Meaning: Engage in a riotous spree. Origin: The allusion is to the kind of unruly behaviour that results in much blood being spilt. There are several suggestions as to the origin of the phrase. The one most often repeated, especially within the walls of the Melton Mowbray Tourist Office, is a tale dating from 1837. It is said that year is when the Marquis of Waterford and a group of friends ran riot in the Leicestershire town of Melton Mowbray, painting the town's toll-bar and several buildings red. There are many other theories, since the above report wasn't printed until 50 years after the event. One is: It is sometimes said to come from the US slang use of "paint" to mean "drink", When someone's drunk their face and nose are flushed red, hence the analogy. http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=156459 Jan 19 10, 2:08 PM

star_gazer

The phrase first appeared in print in the 'Boston Journal' in 1884, meaning any form of excitement or situations where people were very loud and clearly enjoying themselves. I suppose it was based on the fact that red is generally seen as a cheerful - even fiery - colour. Painting the town thus, metaphorically speaking, made it a brighter, 'louder' place. http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/english-idioms-sayings/6012-paint-town-red.html Jan 20 10, 8:10 AM