strike one's flag
The phrase "strike one's flag" originates from naval traditions and has since evolved into an idiomatic expression for surrender or giving up.
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Definition
C1Naval
(technical, historical)To lower a ship's flag to indicate surrender.
Example
- The captain decided to strike the ship's flag to avoid further casualties.
B2General
(idiomatic)To admit defeat or give up a position or advantage.
Example
- After hours of negotiation, she finally struck her flag and accepted the terms.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "strike one's flag":
show the flagfly the flagstrike sailflag gunwave the white flagwhite flagflag rankstrike instrike offstrike a strokestrike a blowhouse flagblack flagstrike outyellow flagstrike workstrike the tentflag of conveniencestrike downstrike a lightstrike backtrim one's sailsgreen flagfalse flagred flagmake one's bowflag on the playstrike a leadon strikebeige flagfalse flagging