Dictionary

red top en · NOUN

Etymology

The titles of these newspapers are traditionally presented on a red banner at the top of the front page.

Meanings

1. (Ireland, UK) A tabloid newspaper, particularly one of those aimed primarily at a working class audience and considered to have lower journalistic standards than black tops or broadsheets.
   • Just as broadsheets only exceptionally outsell any of the tabloids, so middle-market tabloids—the Mail and Express—only rarely outsell the red tops (although the upmarket Sunday Times outsells the mid-market Express on Sunday and The Mail on Sunday outsells The People). 1997 August 13, Brian Macarthur, “Diana: mover and shaker”, in The Times:
   • Tabloids have their own language. Maybe it's because the pages are smaller than the broadsheet papers, or perhaps it's because they have to make room to fit all those pictures of Jordan in her knickers in each day, but tabloidese is a language and a skill peculiar to the red tops. 2010, Sharon Marshall, Tabloid Girl, Hachette UK, →ISBN:
2. (UK, from supermarkets) Milk of the kind sold with a red top, or a bottle thereof. ▸ skimmed milk
   • Red-top milk might be about to disappear 2020 March 24, James Andrews, “Coronavirus: Tesco is axing skimmed milk and many offers from its shelves”, in The Mirror:
3. (UK, from delivery) Milk of the kind sold with a red top, or a bottle thereof. ▸ homogenised whole milk
   • Red top milk is in and green top milk is out, according to Guernsey Dairy, which has seen sales of full fat milk increase by 30% since 2019. 2026 March 29, Julia Gregory, “Sales of full fat milk on the rise, say producers”, in BBC News:
   • Semi-skimmed milk (half the fat of silver and red top) 1996, Anne Barnett, Examining Food Technology, Heinemann, →ISBN, page 39:

Forms

Relateds

black top