white flag

noun

1. an all-white banner or piece of cloth, used as a symbol of surrender or truce.

white flag

noun

1. a white flag or a piece of white cloth hoisted to signify surrender or request a truce

Other Words From

• white-flag adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of white flag¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. hoist / show / wave the white flag, to give up; weaken; yield.

Example Sentences

But quite unlike the schmuck, and this is the fun part, they never run up the white flag; indeed quite the opposite.

From The Daily Beast

At the first sign of trouble, Jeff and Britta throw the white flag.

From The Daily Beast

This president… seems to be waving the white flag of surrender.

From The Daily Beast

A born-to-the-political-manor princeling has thrown up a white flag—and the worst may be yet to come.

From The Daily Beast

Elsewhere, Republicans began to wave the white flag of surrender.

From The Daily Beast

A white woman, Mrs. Henry Jacobi, who had been taken prisoner early in the month, crossed the plain holding a white flag.

From Project Gutenberg

A white flag waved on the rampart, and the drums of the garrison beat the chamade.

From Project Gutenberg

For some time after the white flag was hoisted there was street-fighting between the rebels and the loyals.

From Project Gutenberg

These men were seen coming down the railway-track carrying a white flag.

From Project Gutenberg

If he were provoked, the white flag might in a few days be again flying on the walls of Barcelona.

From Project Gutenberg