Red-lighting

Red-lighting/to red-light is to draw unwanted attention to yourself or another person, usually when committing a criminal act or trying to get away with something shady.

You risk red-lighting yourself &/or another person by behaving in a manner that may elicit unwanted scrutiny.

In Australia the saying is usually used by those who have a criminal background and tends to be associated with people from that demographic.

Examples;
Sitting in a car for an extended period of time when waiting to score.
Being under the influence when dealing with authority figures.

Engaging in avoidable, often pointless activities that put a person at risk of discovery when they would otherwise be in a position to evade notice such as;
driving a few km over the speed limit, using your mobile while driving, stealing something trivial, engaging in unnecessary conflict (verbal or otherwise), littering and so on.

"Mate, I ended up red-lighting myself something bad waiting for Jimbo to show."

"You're just going to red-light yourself driving to Springvale in that car."

Red-lighting by Slim Crim January 11, 2019

Get merch

Get the Red-lighting mug.

See more merch

Red-Lighting

The act of hallucinating without the use of psychoactive drugs, such as LSD or acid. This requires one ping pong ball, a radio with headphone jack, and a red lightbulb. To hallucinate, cut the ping pong ball in half and tape halves over eyes. Then turn the radio to a white noise (static) station and put on headphones. Finally, stare into red lightbulb and wait for about half an hour. Soon, you will start to hallucinate.

Greg: Where were you man? We we're gonna watch the game!

Ben: I was at home, red-lighting. I rode a unicorn underwater.

Greg: That explains why you didn't text back.

Red-Lighting by rugger26 May 16, 2011

Get merch

Related Words

Red-Lighting • Red Lightning • Redlightninge • Red • Red Sox • red bull • Red Wings • red flag • red eye • Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Lighting

A kind of edging wherein one pushes themself to 99% of an orgasm and maintains that state for a prolonged period of time.

I was red lighting for so long last night that I came at a woman’s touch.

Red Lighting by Drewloght April 30, 2024

Get merch

Red Lightning

Another term used to describe stretch marks on someone's body. Just look at what they look like, then think of lightning streaks, but red. You'll get it.

Damn, thats some long streaks of red lightning you've got going there!

Red Lightning by You don't need to know my name. May 24, 2005

Get merch

Redlightninge

A phenomenon that happens when lightning strikes a red-hot surface and it causes the lightning to turn red

I got burnt to a crisp by redlightninge

Redlightninge by Turniker June 9, 2025

Get merch

funiosity

The art of being peculiar, but in an amusing fashion.

"Wow, look at that dog running on three legs"
- "Yeah, that sure is a funiosity"

funiosity by Supersonic Stevie November 23, 2007

Word of the Day on July 25, 2026

Get merch

Toe Rag

A toe rag was originally a foot wrapping used, since mediaeval times up until the mid-nineteenth century, to protect the foot from chafing by boots or shoes. As these were, quite literally, rags they weren’t usually washed, and so with use they became very smelly until they were thrown away. Because of the similarity in smell, toe rag also became the name applied to dried, salted cod or other things with a strong, unpleasant, fishy smell. It didn’t take that long before the name was applied to someone who was an obnoxious, unpleasant OIC.

1 “Socks! Those aren’t socks you smelly git, they’re toe rags!”
2 “What have you been cooking? Smells like toe rag!”
3 “I can smell ‘er fanny from ‘ere, proper toe rag.”
4 That Heale Malcolm is a right toe rag.

Toe Rag by AKACroatalin November 29, 2016

Word of the Day on July 24, 2026

Get merch