red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning

proverb

A red sky at dusk usually indicates a high atmospheric pressure system from the west, denoting stable weather, whereas a red sky at dawn usually indicates a low atmospheric pressure system from the west, denoting unstable weather.

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Meanings

proverb

alternative red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky in the morning, sailors take warning · alternative red sky at night, shepherds' delight; red sky at morning, shepherds' warning · alternative red sky at night, shepherds' delight; red sky in the morning, shepherds' warning · alternative pink sky at night, sailors' delight; pink sky at morning, sailors take warning · alternative pink sky at night, sailors' delight; pink sky in the morning, sailors take warning · alternative red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morn, sailors forlorn · alternative red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky in the morn, sailors forlorn

  1. A red sky at dusk usually indicates a high atmospheric pressure system from the west, denoting stable weather, whereas a red sky at dawn usually indicates a low atmospheric pressure system from the west, denoting unstable weather.

Origin

A maritime phrase used for at least two millennia, likely as a shortening of Matthew 16:2b–3: "When it is evening, you say, "It will be fair weather; for the sky is red." And in the morning, "It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening." You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times."

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/red%20sky%20at%20night%2C%20sailors'%20delight%3B%20red%20sky%20at%20morning%2C%20sailors%20take%20warning

MLA

“red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/red%20sky%20at%20night%2C%20sailors'%20delight%3B%20red%20sky%20at%20morning%2C%20sailors%20take%20warning. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/red%20sky%20at%20night%2C%20sailors'%20delight%3B%20red%20sky%20at%20morning%2C%20sailors%20take%20warning.

Source: red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.