red rag

noun

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

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

red rag

noun

1. a provocation; something that infuriates

Word History and Origins

Origin of red rag¹

First recorded in 1690–1700

Word History and Origins

Origin of red rag¹

so called because red objects supposedly infuriate bulls

Example Sentences

Barely a week after a 6-0 humbling at Chelsea they were a team transformed, the sight of Liverpool like a red rag to a bull.

From BBC

"What was being said was a red rag to a bull for the far right and others. But what concerned me the most was if you're an innocent listener of this. Because it's a secret undercover recording, in inverted commas, because it sounds like me, because of the timing and the context."

From BBC

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

From New York Times

Thomas Moore, senior investment director at Abrdn, told BBC 5Live Mr Pill's words "need to accept" was a "red rag to the bull".

From BBC

For mathematicians, the challenge of beating the odds is like showing a red rag to a bull—and there is an honorable tradition of those who have succeeded.

From Literature