flag-waver

English

Alternative forms

• flag waver
• flagwaver

Etymology

flag +‎ waver

Noun

flag-waver (plural flag-wavers)

1. A highly vocal and visible supporter of a cause.
   • 1910, George A. Donnelly, The Union Postal Clerk, volume 6, page 102:

     In every organization exists a number of so-called flagwavers. Their principal stock in trade is a boisterous verbal display of loyalty to the cause […]

   • 1977, Sidney Bernard, Witnessing: The Seventies, page 39:

     And the hardcore group of some fifty North Viet flagwavers, they're toting the yellow-star standard as if they owned it! And does General Giap know his battles are being won with the aid of every last boy and girl fluttering their flags […]

   • 2016, Chris Grey, A Very Short, Fairly Interesting and Reasonably Cheap Book about Studying Organizations, 4th edition:

     These kinds of empirical studies might seem like the best way of countering the claims of post-bureaucracy's flag-wavers. They certainly act as an antidote to the extravagant and self-serving claims […]

Related terms

• flag-waving