Phrase guide

in the black

prep_phrase · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Having positive net income; having greater income than expenses; making a profit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Topics: accounting, business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

Having positive net worth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Topics: accounting, business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the standard accounting practice of using black ink, as opposed to red ink, to denote positive values, especially a net income.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: dans le noir — having positive net income
  • Japanese: 黒字で (kuroji de) — having positive net income
  • Korean: 흑자 (heukja) — having positive net income
  • Portuguese: no azul — having positive net income
  • Romanian: pe plus — having positive net income