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Synonyms

flag down

Idioms  

  1. Signal to stop, as in The police were flagging down all cars. This expression uses the verb flag in the sense of “catch the attention of, as by waving a flag,” a usage dating from the mid-1800s; down was added in the first half of the 1900s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Peterson has shown flashes of brilliance, but has also missed time with mysterious injuries and seen his play flag down the stretch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026

The decision to take the flag down outside City Hall came just days after the New York Times reported that the flag was flown outside of U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2024

Manchester City defender John Stones limped off with an ankle injury sustained after the assistant referee had kept his flag down as Beto ran through on goal despite being offside.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2023

As cinders rained around her, the woman tried to flag down people driving past for a ride.

From Washington Times • Oct. 13, 2023

The plane hasn't even taken off before I flag down the flight attendant, ask for something to drink.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.