white flag
Americannoun
idioms
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of white flag
First recorded in 1590–1600
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.
In short, they are waving the white flag on the idea of predicting when the war will end and the oil will flow.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 31, 2026
Guardiola appeared to waive the white flag as he replaced Erling Haaland 10 minutes from time to reserve the Norwegian's energy with City still fighting in four competitions.
From Barron's ● Jan. 17, 2026
“We do not like the risk reward that these situations offer, and therefore we put up the white flag and said, ‘we can’t compete in this segment right now,’” Jain said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 25, 2025
When they’re interrupted, Carrie and Miranda immediately put the fight down, wave the white flag and realize that their friendship is so much more important than an argument they’ve had for decades.
From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2025
‘Well,” Grandpa said, “there’s supposed to be a white flag in the mouth of Black Fox. That’s where we leave the road. The camp is in the river bottoms.”
From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls
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.
