- To draw attention to something important, problematic, or requiring consideration.
- Flag (US/Can) or Flag up (UK/Aus) means to highlight or mark an issue.
Explanation
Origin
- Comes from the literal use of flags to signal or draw attention (e.g., on ships, battlefields, or marking locations on a map or document).
- Using a small sticky flag to mark a page in a document is a direct physical analogue.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Give someone a heads-up (More general warning)
- Spotlight (Draw attention to, can be positive or negative)
- Call out (Can be more confrontational, pointing out a flaw/mistake)
Milder/Standard:
- I'd like to mention...
- We should pay attention to...
- There's something we need to look at here...
More Formal:
- It is necessary to identify...
- We must draw attention to the following concern:
Situational Appropriateness
- Very common and appropriate in professional, academic, and technical contexts.
- Flag is standard in American English; Flag up is standard in British/Commonwealth English for this meaning. Using the wrong variant might sound slightly unnatural but will likely be understood.
- Can be used informally as well (Just wanted to flag that the party starts at 8, not 7).
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Potential confusion between US flag and UK flag up, though context usually makes the meaning clear.
- Ensure clarity on *what* is being flagged and *why*. Just saying I'm flagging this isn't helpful without context.
Examples
- I need to flag this potential risk in the project plan. (US/Can)
- Could you flag any discrepancies you find in the report? (US/Can)
- I just wanted to flag up a concern I have about the deadline. (UK/Aus)
- The system automatically flags suspicious transactions. (Both)
Dialogue
(UK Context)
Chen: Reviewing the supplier contract, I need to flag up this clause about liability.
David: Oh? What about it?
Chen: It seems unusually weighted against us. I think Legal should review it.
David: Good spot. Thanks for flagging that up. I'll forward it to Legal immediately.
Maria: While testing, I found a bug. I'll flag it in the tracking system.
Sam: Okay, what's the bug?
Maria: The checkout button doesn't work on mobile Safari.
Sam: Ah, critical. Thanks for flagging it. Assign it high priority.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet (Developer): Just pushed a fix. Thanks to @User123 for flagging the issue with login persistence. #BugFix
- LinkedIn Post (UK): Important update for our clients: Please note the change in reporting deadlines. Flagging this up so nobody misses it! #Announcement
- Forum Comment: Could someone flag the relevant section in the documentation? I can't find it.
Response Patterns
- Acknowledgment: Okay, thanks for flagging that., Noted., Good catch.
- Inquiry: Okay, what's the issue exactly?, Why are you flagging this?
- Agreement on importance: Yes, that definitely needs attention.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone flags an issue:
- Discussing the flagged issue in more detail.
- Investigating the concern.
- Deciding on necessary actions.
- Assigning someone to address the flagged item.
Action: Marking the item (digitally or physically) for attention.
Conversation Starter
- No.
- Used within a task or discussion (reviewing documents, planning, analyzing data) to identify specific points needing attention.
Intonation
- Emphasis is placed on flag. FLAG this issue or flag UP this concern.
- Tone is usually alert or cautionary.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across generations in relevant contexts.
Regional Variations
- Flag is the predominant verb form in North America.
- Flag up is the common phrasal verb form in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, etc.