red-hot

red-hot — adjective

1. raised to such a high temperature that a solid surface, especially metal, glows

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

raised to such a high temperature that a solid surface, especially metal, glows with a red colour; also describes anything that feels burning or dangerously hot to the touch.

Example

The blacksmith plunged the red-hot iron into a bucket of water, and steam burst out.

describes metal heated until it glows red

Bao burned his finger on the red-hot handle of the frying pan and ran cold water over it.

Common collocations
  • red-hot metal
  • red-hot iron
  • red-hot coals
  • red-hot lava
Synonyms
  • scorching

    focuses on the burning effect on skin or surfaces, slightly less formal

  • blazing

    suggests flames or intense brightness, more dramatic in tone

  • fiery

    often implies literal flames or a vivid red glow, similar in strength

Antonyms

2. describes a topic, event, performance, or feeling that people find extremely exc

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes a topic, event, performance, or feeling that people find extremely exciting, interesting, or emotionally powerful.

Example

The film's red-hot opening weekend broke every box-office record in the country.

collocation: red-hot + [event/period] for great success

Constanza felt a wave of red-hot anger when she saw the damage to her car.

Common collocations
  • red-hot favourite
  • red-hot news
  • red-hot anger
  • red-hot prices
  • red-hot winning streak
Synonyms
  • blazing

    shared intensity; 'blazing' is more common for literal fire but works figuratively too

  • sizzling

    adds a sense of excitement or romance; slightly more informal

  • raging

    only for negative emotions like anger; cannot describe something popular

Antonyms
  • mild

    opposite of intense in feeling or reaction

  • lukewarm

    suggests weak or indifferent public interest

Usage Note

Typically appears before a noun (attributive position). Can describe positive excitement (a red-hot band, a red-hot deal) or negative intensity (red-hot rage, red-hot anger).

Common Mistakes

The soup is red-hot today.
The soup is very hot today.
'red-hot' for food temperature sounds unnatural; use 'very hot' or 'burning hot' instead.
She gave me a red-hot look.
She gave me a furious look.
'red-hot' is not used for facial expressions in everyday English.

red-hot — noun

red-hot — phrase

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe intense heat, but each carries a different nuance. 'Scorching' focuses on the effect — heat strong enough to burn or dry out a surface (a scorching summer day). 'Blazing' suggests brightness and flames, often with a visual element (a blazing fire). 'Fiery' is the closest to 'red-hot' because it implies both heat and a red glow (fiery coals); it also works figuratively for personality (a fiery temper). 'Burning' is the most general and can describe anything actively on fire or painfully hot (a burning building, burning skin). For the literal sense of metal glowing with heat, 'red-hot' is the most precise term; the alternatives work better for weather, flames, or general heat sensations. Example: 'The blacksmith's forge contained red-hot iron, not merely burning wood.'

scorchingblazingfiery ↗burning ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • red-hot metal
  • red-hot favourite
  • red-hot news
  • red-hot tip
  • red-hot anger
  • red-hot prices

Adverbs

  • absolutely red-hot
  • still red-hot
  • genuinely red-hot

Phrases

  • red-hot winning streak
  • red-hot housing market

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

A compound of 'red' (from Old English 'rēad', meaning the colour of blood or fire) and 'hot' (from Old English 'hāt', meaning having a high temperature). The two words were combined by the 14th century to describe metal or iron heated until it glows red. By the early 19th century, the term had developed figurative uses for intense emotion (red-hot anger), great popularity (red-hot news), and, later in American English, specific food items named for their appearance (red-hots as reddish sausages and cinnamon candies).