red flag
Red flag (noun) means a sign that something is wrong or dangerous, especially an early warning about a person's behaviour or about a situation you are considering entering. Example: “He wouldn't let her meet his friends, which should have been a red flag.”
How to use red flag
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA warning sign that something is not right.
Neutral; extremely common in dating, HR and finance contexts.
Red flags warn you; red herrings mislead you. They are not related.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He wouldn't let her meet his friends, which should have been a _____.
Etymology
From the literal use of a red flag as a warning or stop signal, red being long established as the colour of danger.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a red flag and a green flag?
A red flag is a warning sign that a person or situation may be harmful; a green flag is the newer, deliberately opposite coinage for a sign that someone is healthy, considerate and worth trusting. Both come from motorsport flagging, where red stops the race and green starts it.
What are examples of red flags in a relationship?
Commonly cited ones include controlling who you see, refusing to take responsibility, love-bombing early on, disrespecting boundaries, and speaking with contempt about every previous partner. A single instance is rarely conclusive; a pattern is what makes it a red flag.
Is "red flag" hyphenated?
As a noun it is two words: a red flag. As a verb it is usually hyphenated or written as one word — red-flagged, red-flagging.
What is the meaning of red flag?
"red flag" (noun) means a sign that something is wrong or dangerous, especially an early warning about a person's behaviour or about a situation you are considering entering.