“red light”最核心的含义是交通信号灯中的红色信号，指示车辆或行人停止。其英式音标为/ˌred ˈlaɪt/，美式音标为/ˌred ˈlaɪt/ 或 /ˈred ˈlɑɪt/。除了字面意义的交通指示灯，它还常被用来比喻“危险信号”或“停止的信号”，偶尔在口语中也指“旧时以红灯作为标志的妓院”。

短语搭配

jump a red light / drive through a red light：闯红灯（指车辆未停车直接通过红灯）

wait for the red light to change：等红灯变灯（正确的“等红灯”表达，而非直接说“wait the red light”）

see the red light：意识到危险或警告信号

例句

The police fined her for driving through a red light.（她因闯红灯被警方罚款。）

Only if the red light comes on is there any danger to employees.（只有红灯亮起时，才表示存在危及职工的险情。）

Harry's remarks were beginning to annoy me but he saw the red light and changed the subject.（哈里的话开始让我恼火，但他察觉到了我的不满，立刻转移了话题。）

You might even be reading this post on your smartphone at a red light.（你甚至可能在等红灯时用智能手机阅读这篇文章。）

If a careless driver jumps a red light, the brakes come on and the train halts.（如果粗心的司机闯红灯，列车会自动刹车并停下。）

I thought I gave him a red light, but he keeps pursuing me nonetheless.（我以为我已经明确拒绝了他，但他还是继续追求我。）

The taxi driver was obviously in the wrong in going ahead against the red light.（这位出租车司机闯红灯显然是不对的。）

We were breezing along at about 80 when we saw the red light.（我们正以约80英里的时速行驶，突然看到了红灯。）

A visible red light beam can be positioned for easy setup and target alignment.（可见的红色光束可用于简单的设置和目标对准。）

The dying fire was throwing out a dull red light.（将要熄灭的火发出暗红色的光。）

无论是指挥交通、警示危险，还是隐喻拒绝，“red light”的核心功能始终是传递“停止”或“警告”的信号。下次看到红灯时，除了踩刹车，或许还能联想到它在语言中的巧妙运用——毕竟，连拒绝他人都可以说“gave a red light”呢。