Meaning & use
the red top
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Meanings
nounsingularBritishinformal
A popular British newspaper printed on red-tinted paper, known for bold headlines and entertainment rather than serious news.
Grammar: Always used with 'the' and often treated as a fixed phrase. In American English, people usually just say 'tabloid'.
Patterns
- the red tops
- read the red tops
- a story in the red tops
The red tops all led with the same celebrity story on their front pages.
He prefers the red tops to the broadsheets because they are easier to read on the train.
The red top printed a shocking headline that turned out to be completely untrue.
nouncountable
A red-colored piece of clothing for the upper body, especially a shirt or blouse.
Grammar: This is a literal, everyday use. It is countable: you can say 'a red top' or 'red tops'.
Patterns
- wear a red top
- a red top and jeans
- buy a red top
She wore a red top to the party and everyone complimented her on it.
I spilled coffee on my red top, so I had to change before the meeting.
The team's fans all wore red tops to show their support.
Word forms
| plural | red tops |
|---|
Common combinations
- the red tops
- The red tops are often criticized for invading people's privacy.
- a red-top tabloid
- That story was only covered by a red-top tabloid, not by the serious press.
- read the red tops
- My grandfather reads the red tops every morning at breakfast.
- a red top and jeans
- For the casual party, a red top and jeans will be fine.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tabloid
- This is the more neutral, general word for a popular newspaper; 'red top' is specifically British and informal, and refers to the paper's color.
- gutter press
- This is a strongly disapproving term for newspapers that use sensational methods; 'red top' is less judgmental and simply describes the type of paper.
Opposites
Word family
- red-top adjective
- Used before a noun to describe this kind of newspaper, as in 'a red-top tabloid'.
Commonly confused: the red top or redhead?
the red top vs redhead
A 'redhead' is a person with red hair, not a newspaper. The two phrases sound a little similar but have completely different meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'the red top' correctly to mean a type of newspaper?
Choose one answer.
The correct answer is B because 'the red top' here refers to a British popular newspaper. An is about a piece of clothing, C is about part of a table, and D is a made-up meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the red top”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.