When I was a student in Cardiff in the mid to late 1960s, Friday nights were for celebrating the end of the week — usually with the dental students heading down to our club in Howard Gardens off the Newport Road.
We didn’t have much money, but we made up for it in enthusiasm.
After a few pints of beer, the laughter grew louder, the stories taller, and our confidence in our singing voices… well, let’s say “unjustified.”
If someone had walked past and said we were about to “paint the town red,” they wouldn’t have been far wrong.
But where on earth did that colourful phrase come from?
The True Origins
The phrase “paint the town red” dates back to 19th-century England, and — like many good stories — it begins with a night of riotous fun.
The most widely accepted version involves the Marquis of Waterford, a high-spirited nobleman known for his reckless antics.
In 1837, he and a few friends arrived in the quiet market town of Melton Mowbray after a long day of hunting and an even longer night of drinking. What followed was something between a practical joke and outright vandalism.
They went through the town smearing red paint on doors, signs, and even a tollgate. By dawn, parts of Melton were literally painted red.
The incident made headlines, and the expression stuck. From then on, “painting the town red” meant celebrating with unrestrained enthusiasm — hopefully with less paint involved.
From Aristocrats to Everyday Speech
It’s remarkable how a single night of mischief by a wealthy few turned into one of the most cheerful idioms in English.
By the late 1800s, the phrase had crossed the Atlantic and was common in America too.
Victorian society, of course, would never have approved of such behaviour — at least publicly — but the phrase captured something universal: that occasional urge to let go, to celebrate, to feel alive.
Even the most proper people need to “paint the town red” once in a while.
And that’s probably why the expression has lasted. It’s not about bad behaviour anymore — it’s about joy, release, and freedom.
The Deeper Meaning
To “paint the town red” today means more than just a night out.
It’s about moments when life feels too ordinary and we decide to make it extraordinary — even for a few hours.
It’s the evening when you finally relax after months of work.
It’s the weekend you spend with friends laughing until your sides ache.
Or perhaps, these days, it’s simply taking a day off to enjoy the little things — without guilt.
When you think about it, painting the town red isn’t really about colour at all.
It’s about permission — the freedom to celebrate, to step outside the routine, and to enjoy being human.
My Own “Paint the Town Red” Moments
Over the years, I’ve had a few moments that would qualify — and not just the Cardiff nights of my student days.
During my years working in Saudi Arabia, for instance, a few of us would drive out into the desert for a weekend. We’d camp under the stars, light a fire, and enjoy the kind of peace you can only find in a vast open space.
There was no town to paint, but we still celebrated — stories, music, laughter echoing into the night.
That, in its own way, was our version of it.
And these days, “painting the town red” might simply mean celebrating a small success online — finishing a new project, seeing my blog post schedule click into place, or hearing from a reader who’s just made their first affiliate sale.
It’s not about extravagance anymore. It’s about appreciation.
From Red Paint to Red-Hot Passion
Language is fascinating that way — words evolve, but the spirit remains.
The red paint of the Marquis’s wild night has faded from the walls of Melton Mowbray, but the idea behind it still burns bright.
We might not reach for a paintbrush these days, but whenever we decide to make the most of life — to throw off our daily cares — we’re keeping that old expression alive.
So next time you hear someone say they’re going to “paint the town red,”
think of it as a small act of rebellion against the ordinary — a cheerful reminder to live a little.
And who knows — it might even inspire you to celebrate your own wins, however small, this week.
Before You Go…
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