Meaning of better dead than red | Babel Free

Definitions

It is preferable to be deceased than to be a Communist or ruled by Communists.

Equivalents

Examples

“Canon Collins urged the electors to reject⟳ the candidate nominated by the Crown, Dr. R. W. Stopford, Bishop of Peterborough, who, he claimed, had said "it would be better to have⟳ nuclear war than to permit⟳ Communist domination over Britain." Canon Collins said: "I cannot believe⟳ it is proper for a bishop of the church to encourage⟳ the idea which is popularly expressed In the formula ‘better dead than red.’"”

“The recertification of El Salvador's progress⟳ on human rights is nothing but a basic restatement of the Reagan foreign policy, which is "better dead than Red."”

“In a country whose motto not long ago was “Better dead than Red”, it is ironic that today Time Magazine awarded Vladimir Putin the “Man of the Year Award”.”

CEFR level