better dead than red

proverb

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

Meanings

better dead than red1

proverb

alternative better dead than Red · alternative better Dead than Red

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

    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."

    1982 July 30, Mary McGrory, “Reagan View: El Salvador's slaughter better than communism”, in Spokane Chronicle, retrieved 30 Oct 2013, page 6
    2 more 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.’"

    1961 August 14, “Canon Causes Stir At Church Election”, in The Age, Australia, retrieved 30 Oct 2013, page 11

    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”.

    2007 December 20, Karen Fish, “Watch Hillary Clinton Vehemently Vow to Raise Taxes and Vote for War”, in San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center, retrieved 30 Oct 2013

better dead than Red2

proverb
  1. alternativeAlternative form of better dead than red.

better Dead than Red3

proverb
  1. alternativeAlternative form of better dead than red.

Translations

Dutch liever dood dan rood, beter dood dan rood
  • liever dood dan roodanti-Communist slogan
  • beter dood dan roodanti-Communist slogan
German lieber tot als rot, besser tot als rot
  • lieber tot als rotanti-Communist slogan
  • besser tot als rotanti-Communist slogan
Norwegian heller død enn rød, bedre død enn rød
  • heller død enn rødanti-Communist slogan
  • bedre død enn rødanti-Communist slogan
Swedish hellre död än röd, bättre död än röd
  • hellre död än rödanti-Communist slogan
  • bättre död än rödanti-Communist slogan
Cite this entry
APA

better dead than red. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/better%20dead%20than%20red

MLA

“better dead than red.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/better%20dead%20than%20red. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “better dead than red,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/better%20dead%20than%20red.

Source: better dead than red on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.