Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

better dead than red

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.86 in modern English

Syllables: bet-ter dead- than red
IPA

25

Scrabble Score

17

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

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

proverb

Alternative form of better dead than red.

proverb

Alternative form of better dead than red.

Example Sentences

"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”."

Phrases

give me liberty or give me death liberty or death

Frequently Paired Words

give me liberty or give me death liberty or death

Questions

What does better dead than red mean?: It is preferable to be deceased than to be a Communist or ruled by Communists.

How to pronounce better dead than red

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