flag-wagging

A sailor stands on the deck of a ship, flag-wagging a message to another vessel.

Definition

1. Noun (slang):
   • Signaling with flags: "flag-wagging" refers to the act of giving signals or communicating using flags, often in a nautical or military context.
   • Extravagant patriotism: Informally, it can mean excessive or ostentatious display of national pride, similar to "flag-waving."

Usage Examples

• Signaling with flags:

  • The sailors practiced flag-wagging to coordinate their maneuvers at sea. (They used flags to send signals between ships.)
  • In semaphore, flag-wagging is a precise method of communication. (The act of moving flags to represent letters or numbers.)

• Extravagant patriotism:

  • His speech was full of flag-wagging, appealing to national pride without substance. (He used exaggerated patriotic rhetoric.)
  • The parade featured loud flag-wagging that some found overdone. (An overly emotional display of patriotism.)

Advanced Usage

• "to engage in flag-wagging": to perform the act of signaling with flags or to display patriotism in a showy manner.
  • The scouts learned to engage in flag-wagging during their camping trip. (They practiced flag signaling.)
  • Politicians often engage in flag-wagging during election campaigns. (They appeal to nationalistic sentiment.)

Variants and Related Words

• Flag-wag (verb, rare): to signal with flags or to wave a flag in a showy way.

  • He flag-wagged enthusiastically at the rally. (He waved a flag with excessive energy.)

• Flag-waver (noun): a person who engages in flag-wagging, especially in the patriotic sense.

  • The speaker was a notorious flag-waver, always invoking national symbols. (A person who displays patriotism ostentatiously.)

Synonyms

• Flag signaling: the use of flags to send messages.
• Semaphore: a system of visual signaling using flags or arms.
• Jingoism: extreme patriotism, often aggressive or showy (for the figurative sense).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• Flag-wagging does not form common phrasal verbs, but it can be used in idiomatic phrases:
  • "All flag-wagging and no substance": describing something that is superficially patriotic but lacks real meaning.

    • The ceremony was all flag-wagging and no substance. (It was flashy but empty.)

Related Idioms

• Wave the flag: to display patriotism or support for a cause in a visible way.

  • He waved the flag at every opportunity to boost his image. (He showed patriotism ostentatiously.)

• Run something up the flagpole: to test an idea or proposal.

  • Let's run this plan up the flagpole and see if it works. (A metaphorical use, unrelated to flag-wagging.)