- A warning sign; an indicator of potential danger, problems, risk, or something suspicious that should warrant caution or further investigation.
Explanation
Origin
Derived from the literal use of red flags as signals for danger or caution in various contexts:
- Beaches: Warning of dangerous swimming conditions.
- Railways: Signal to stop or proceed with caution.
- Military: Indicate firing ranges or exercises.
- Motorsports: Signal to stop the race due to danger.
- Historically: Sometimes used to signify disease outbreaks (plague).
The color red's strong association with danger, warning, and stopping made it a natural metaphor for potential problems in general situations. Became widespread in the 20th century.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Sketchy / Sus (Suspicious)
- Shady
- Dodgy (UK/Aus)
- Bad vibes
- Iffy
- Alarm bells ringing
Milder/Formal:
- Warning sign
- Cause for concern / Point of concern
- Indicator of potential problems
- Cautionary signal
- Anomaly requiring investigation
Situational Appropriateness
- Appropriate in a wide range of contexts, from informal discussions (e.g., dating) to formal settings (e.g., business risk assessment, medical diagnosis).
- Very common and widely understood.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Generally well understood due to the widespread cultural association of red with danger/warning. Ensure the listener understands it signifies a *potential* problem needing attention, not necessarily a confirmed disaster.
Examples
- His constant lying was a huge red flag in the relationship.
- The auditor noted several accounting irregularities, raising a red flag about the company's finances.
- A job offer that seems too good to be true can sometimes be a red flag.
- Feeling consistently drained after spending time with someone might be a red flag.
Dialogue
HR Manager 1: The candidate seemed perfect on paper, but during the interview, he couldn't provide any specific examples of his achievements.
HR Manager 2: Hmm, that's a bit of a red flag. It might suggest he exaggerated his resume.
HR Manager 1: My thoughts exactly. We need to check his references very carefully.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Applied for a remote job. Interviewer refused to turn on their camera and the company website looks fake. SO many red flags! 🚩 #jobscam #redflags #warning
- Thread: Relationship Red Flags 🚩: 1. They constantly criticize you, even as 'jokes'. 2. They try to isolate you from friends/family...
- Comment: The fact they deleted all negative reviews is a huge red flag for that product.
Response Patterns
- Oh really? Why do you say that?
- That does sound worrying. / That's concerning.
- Good point. / Good catch.
- Yeah, definitely something to watch out for.
- What other red flags have you noticed?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone identifies a red flag:
- Ask for elaboration: What makes you think it's a problem? / Can you give an example?
- Discuss implications: What could that lead to? / What are the risks?
- Consider action: Should we investigate further? / Maybe we should avoid X?
- Validate the concern: I agree, that seems suspicious.
Conversation Starter
- No. Identifies a specific point of concern within an ongoing discussion or situation.
Intonation
- Often said with a tone of concern, caution, or suspicion.
- Stress usually falls on both red and flag. RED FLAG.
Generation Differences
- Extremely common across all generations, particularly prevalent in online discussions about relationships, job searching, and identifying problematic behavior. Often accompanied by the 🚩 emoji online.
Regional Variations
- Universal across English-speaking regions.