red ink
noun[U]
informalukusasituationin which acompanyislosinga lot ofmoney:
Thelinebetweenprofitabilityandredinkin abookstoreis sothinthateventhe littledecisionsareimportant.
bleed/leak/spill red inkTheparentcompanyhas beenfallingapartfor severalmonths,bleedingredink, andlosingclients.
the flow/tide/sea of red inkTheboomadecadeago has now given way to aseaofredink.