Here's how it works:
* Red ink: Traditionally, red ink was used to mark errors or corrections on documents, especially financial ones.
* Litter: To be scattered or covered with something in a messy way.
Therefore, "littered with red ink" implies a document, report, or even a business is full of mistakes or facing financial problems.
Example:
* "The company's financial statements were littered with red ink, showing a significant loss for the quarter."
This phrase conveys a sense of chaos, failure, and financial distress.