roll out the red carpet

1. To welcome an important guest by putting a red carpet down for him to walk on.
They rolled out the red carpet for the Queen when she arrived in Australia.
2. To greet a person with great respect and honor; give a hearty welcome.
Margaret's family rolled out the red carpet for her teacher when she came to dinner.
Compare: WELCOME MAT.
- red-carpet  {adj.}
When the president visited the foreign country, he was given the red-carpet treatment and welcomed by a great crowd.
We gave Uncle Willie the red-carpet treatment when he returned from Hong Kong.
Categories: adjective greeting verb