red rag

American  

noun

1. something that arouses anger; a provocation; red flag.

   A mere mention of the incident is a red rag to him.

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red rag British  

noun

1. a provocation; something that infuriates

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Etymology

Origin of red rag

First recorded in 1690–1700

Example Sentences

Fairclough added wearing number one "was like waving a red rag to a bull at that level of football".

From BBC • Oct. 10, 2025

“Azov was like a red rag for them,” he said.

From New York Times • Jun. 20, 2023

Such an agreement would be far simpler, limited largely to tariff reduction, and would not be known as “TTIP”, a red rag to anti-globalisation protesters.

From Reuters • May 16, 2018

When John Grobler passed through town in late April, Leila lay huddled, half-starved in a smudge of shade, with a dirty red rag as a collar and eyes as empty as the abandoned cages.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 10, 2017

Then he grabs a faded red rag from a cardboard box next to the sink, tips the can, and wets it.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell