Fig: to welcome someone with great respect and honor

When the Pope visited our country, he was welcomed by a huge cheering crowd and was given the red-carpet treatment

Quando il Papa visitò il nostro Paese, fu ricevuto con tutti gli onori, acclamato da un'immensa folla osannante

“Last weekend my boy-friend's parents came to visit and, as I wanted to give them an extra special treatment, I cleaned the house, bought flowers, cooked a wonderful dinner and even bought them a present” “Boy, you've really rolled out the red carpet!

“Lo scorso fine settimana sono venuti a trovarmi i genitori del mio ragazzo perciò ho pulito la casa, ho comprato dei fiori, ho preparato un'ottima cena e ho gli ho perfino comprato un regalo” “Perbacco, li hai proprio trattati coi fiocchi!"

When an important person was received at a public place, a red carpet was usually unrolled at the entrance. Since our expression dates only from the 1930s, it may have a more specific origin: the red carpet that led passengers to the Twentieth Century Limited, the best known train in the U.S.A., connecting New York with Chicago. This train was all first-class (at that time called Pullman), and both his accommodation and dining-car were considered the top of luxury