at half-mast

Idioms  

1. Halfway up or down, as in The church bells tolled off and on all day and the flags were at half-mast. This term refers to placing a flag halfway up a ship's mast or flagpole, a practice used as a mark of respect for a person who has died or, at sea, as a distress signal. Occasionally the term is transferred to other objects, as in Tom's pants were at half-mast as he raced around the playground, or The puppy's tail was at half-mast. [First half of 1600s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

at half-mast

Flags flew at half-mast, with candlelight vigils planned later in the day, following traditional Hindu mourning rituals on the 13th day after death.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

Flags are flying at half-mast to honor singer Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at the age of 80.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Flags at Cleveland Police headquarters are flying at half-mast and Redcar and Cleveland Council has opened a book of condolence at its offices on Ridley Street in Redcar.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Sweeting said that the flag on the town centre brewery was being flown at half-mast in tribute to Smith.

From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026

“Nobody’s seen you all day. Somebody told me they saw the flag at the guard booth at half-mast and I was afraid you might be dead.”

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt