red rag

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“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

"Such statements are like a red rag to a bull," said international relations analyst Aderemi Oyewumi.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2014

Each time someone arrives to eat dinner, he waves the red rag to guide the customer into a parking space, like a ground crew member ushering a jetliner to a gate.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario