red flag
A 'red flag' commonly signifies a warning or alert in various contexts, from relationships to safety protocols.
Definition
B2General
(informal)A sign or signal that something is wrong or needs attention.
Example
- His constant lateness was a red flag for the project manager.
- Ignoring these red flags can lead to serious issues down the line.
C1Motor Racing
(technical, sports)A signal used to indicate that a race must be stopped immediately.
Example
- The race was halted when the red flag was shown due to the crash.
C1Fire Safety
(technical)An alert issued to warn of conditions highly conducive to wildfires.
Example
- A red flag warning was issued due to the high winds and dry conditions.
B2Relationships
(informal)An indicator of potential problems or unhealthy behavior in a relationship.
Example
- Her excessive jealousy was a major red flag for him.
C1Medical
(technical)A sign or symptom that suggests a serious underlying condition.
Example
- Sudden weight loss can be a red flag for various health issues.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "red flag":
yellow flagred ragwarning signred flag lawgreen flagfalse flaggedflag gundanger signalbad signwarning bellblack flagred alertfalse flagfalse flaggingflag rankwhite flagflag on the playalarm bellbeige flagred linecode reddragon flagcode yellowstrike one's flagshow the flaghouse flagchequered flagrainbow flagred card