red rag
Definition
Noun: - Something that provokes anger or strong irritation: "red rag" refers to anything that is likely to make a person or group extremely angry or upset, similar to how a red cloth is said to enrage a bull. - The politician's comments were a red rag to his opponents. (The comments provoked intense anger.)
Usage Examples
- (Her criticism caused extreme irritation.)
- (The factory was a source of anger and provocation.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be a red rag to a bull": a fixed expression meaning something that causes a violent reaction.
- Mentioning his ex-wife is a red rag to a bull for him. (It makes him furious immediately.)
Variants and Related Words
- Red-rag (adj): describing something that is inflammatory or provocative.
- His red-rag speech led to a heated debate. (His provocative speech caused conflict.)
Synonyms
- Provocation: something that deliberately annoys or angers.
- Irritant: a thing that causes annoyance or frustration.
Related Idioms
- Like a red rag to a bull: used to describe something that is certain to make someone very angry.
- That topic is like a red rag to a bull for my father. (It always makes him angry.)
Notes
- The term originates from the traditional belief that bulls are enraged by the colour red, though this is scientifically inaccurate. The phrase is now used metaphorically for any strong trigger of anger.