This is what is said about some clearly distinguished, dominant thought, idea, or trend in an artistic, scientific, or journalistic work, as well as in an oral speech, speech, lecture, or report.

The origin of this expression is obviously due to the fact that since the end of the XVIII century, a red thread was woven into the ropes used on ships of the English navy, which could not be pulled out otherwise than by loosening the entire rope. The presence of such a thread served as a kind of identification mark to protect the ropes from theft.

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