Meaning & use
fly a flag
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Meanings
phraseidiom
To display a flag on a pole or building so that it moves in the wind.
Grammar: Takes a flag as its object: they fly a flag outside their house; the flag can also be the subject: the flag flies.
Patterns
- fly a flag on something
- fly a flag outside something
Our neighbors fly a flag outside their house on national holidays.
The ship flew a flag to show where it was registered.
We fly a flag from the roof during the festival.
phraseidiomfigurative
To openly show support for a cause, group, country or belief.
Grammar: Often used figuratively, usually as fly the flag for something.
Patterns
- fly the flag for something
- fly a flag for someone
She likes to fly a flag for local businesses whenever she can.
The team flew a flag for the whole region at the championship.
He flew a flag for kindness in every speech he gave.
Word forms
| third person singular | flies a flag |
|---|---|
| past tense | flew a flag |
| past participle | flown a flag |
| -ing form | flying a flag |
Common combinations
- fly a flag at half-mast
- The town flew a flag at half-mast to mark the loss.
- fly a flag from a pole
- They fly a flag from a pole in the garden.
- fly a flag for
- The athlete flew a flag for her home country.
- proudly fly a flag
- Many households proudly fly a flag on holidays.
- fly a rainbow flag
- The shop will fly a rainbow flag during the parade.
Synonyms and how they differ
- hoist a flag
- Hoist a flag means raise it up the pole, so it names the action of putting it up, not the display.
- display a flag
- Display a flag is more general and does not require that the flag be high or moving.
- wave a flag
- Wave a flag usually means holding and moving it by hand, such as at a parade.
- champion
- Champion, used as a verb, is the figurative equivalent for supporting a cause and is more formal.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: fly a flag or flag down?
fly a flag vs flag down
To flag down a vehicle means to signal it to stop, which is different from displaying a flag.
Practice
During the national holiday, the town hall will ___ a flag from the tallest pole.
Choose one answer.
A flag is displayed in the air by flying it. The other verbs are real words but do not combine with flag in this sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fly a flag”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.