white flag

American  

noun

1. an all-white banner or piece of cloth, used as a symbol of surrender or truce.

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idioms

1. hoist / show / wave the white flag, to give up; weaken; yield.

white flag British  

noun

1. a white flag or a piece of white cloth hoisted to signify surrender or request a truce

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Other Word Forms

• white-flag adjective

Etymology

Origin of white flag

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

For weeks now, angry and distressed residents in Indonesia's westernmost province have been raising white flags over the state's slow response to a series of deadly floods.

From BBC

“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

Then, lifting the red and white flag from his shoulders, he had a message for Belarusians everywhere.

From BBC

The Bruins waved the white flag in the final two minutes, allowing Madden Iamaleava to make his collegiate debut in relief of Duncan.

From Los Angeles Times

Redick waved the white flag by the middle of the third quarter after the starting unit let the deficit balloon to 25.

From Los Angeles Times