In the Black

Meaning of Idiom ‘In the Black’

If a business is in the black, it is making a profit and not in debt.

Opposite of in the red.

Usage Notes

The idiom ‘in the black’ usually refers to businesses but it can be used to refer to the finances of an individual.

Sentence Examples

“Thanks to our new CFO, we are now in the black for the first time in years.”

“When we first opened the restaurant, we were in the black five years running but things got bad during the Covid epidemic.

“Just one more house payment and I’ll be in the black.”

“Just because we’re in the black doesn’t mean we can slack off. Bills will keep coming.”

Origin of ‘In the Black’

Used since the early 1900s, this idiom refers to the bookkeeping practice of marking credits in black ink and debits in red.