red flag

¹

noun

1. the symbol or banner of a left-wing revolutionary party.

2. a danger signal.

3. something that provokes an angry or hostile reaction.

   The talk about raising taxes was a red flag to many voters.

4. Also called powder flag. Nautical.,  a red burgee, designating in the International Code of Signals the letter “B,” flown by itself to show that a vessel is carrying, loading, or discharging explosives or highly inflammable material.

5. (initial capital letters),  a war game the U.S. Air Force holds several times each year at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to train personnel in air combat.

red-flag

²

[red-flag]

verb (used with object)

red-flagged, red-flagging 

1. to mark or draw attention to for a particular purpose.

   The department has red-flagged the most urgent repair work to be done.

2. to provoke the attention of; alert; arouse.

   The animal's refusal to eat red-flagged the keeper that something was wrong.

adjective

1. of or relating to a red flag.

2. intended or serving to emphasize, warn, incite, or provoke.

red flag

¹

noun

1. a symbol of socialism, communism, or revolution

2. a warning of danger or a signal to stop

Red Flag

²

noun

1. a socialist song, written by James Connell (1852–1929), Irish political activist, in 1889

Word History and Origins

Origin of red flag¹

First recorded in 1770–80

Origin of red flag²

First recorded in 1880–85