reds under the bed

Cold War hysteria

Reds under the bed refers to paranoid fear of hidden communist infiltrators, especially during the Cold War era.

The phrase mocks those who see Soviet agents or sympathizers lurking everywhere—in government, schools, Hollywood.

It evokes McCarthyism and anti-communist hysteria: My grandfather still believes there are reds under the bed at every university.

Opposites

political orientation of perceived threat

reds under the bedcrypto-fascists

People hiding fascist beliefs

political stance toward communism

reds under the bedfellow traveler

Ideological ally without membership

political orientation of paranoia

reds under the beddeep state

Covert governmental power structure

Family