Roll out the red carpet
Meaning
To provide an exceptionally grand and elaborate welcome for someone, treating them with immense honor and respect.
Origin
The tradition of laying out a crimson path for esteemed guests dates back to antiquity, famously appearing in Aeschylus's Agamemnon (458 BC) where Clytemnestra welcomes her husband with a 'crimson path.' However, the modern idiom 'roll out the red carpet' gained widespread currency in early 20th-century America. It became particularly associated with the opulent welcomes extended to dignitaries and celebrities arriving by train, who would literally step onto a plush red carpet upon disembarking. Hollywood soon adopted this practice for its lavish movie premieres, cementing the red carpet as the ultimate symbol of VIP treatment and transforming an ancient custom into a vivid, everyday expression for an extravagant welcome.
Examples
- When the distinguished professor visited the university, the faculty decided to roll out the red carpet for her arrival.
- They planned to roll out the red carpet for their international delegates, ensuring a luxurious experience from start to finish.