red rag
Americannoun
-
something that arouses anger; a provocation; red flag.
A mere mention of the incident is a red rag to him.
noun
-
a provocation; something that infuriates
Etymology
Origin of red rag
First recorded in 1690–1700
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.
“Azov was like a red rag for them,” he said.
From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2023
Is this a red rag to a bull, an invitation to Salah to set the record straight?
From The Guardian • Jun. 25, 2018
Such an agreement would be far simpler, limited largely to tariff reduction, and would not be known as “TTIP”, a red rag to anti-globalisation protesters.
From Reuters • May 16, 2018
When John Grobler passed through town in late April, Leila lay huddled, half-starved in a smudge of shade, with a dirty red rag as a collar and eyes as empty as the abandoned cages.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2017
Then he grabs a faded red rag from a cardboard box next to the sink, tips the can, and wets it.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
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.