red flag in front of a bull

English

Etymology

A metaphor for the muleta used by bullfighters.

Noun

red flag in front of a bull

1. Synonym of red rag to a bull
   • 2007, Georgina Gentry, To Love a Texan, page 63:

     That message always acted like a red flag to a bull and they charged in, determined to hog-tie him and put a wedding ring through his nose.

   • 2008, John Calvert, Another Sort of Life:

     Of course his complicated financial dealings must have been a direct provocation to the IRS, a red flag in front of a bull.

   • 2012, Henrik Bogdan, Martin P. Starr, Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism:

     To a committed individualist such as Norton, this was truly a case of “waving a red flag at a bull,” and although there was undeniably a certain amount of overblown and probably mock-offended rhetoric in her response, equally there is no doubt that many of the objections she raised were her sincerely held opinions

   • 2012, Kresley Cole, Lothaire:

     Yes, his mocking stung, but he hadn't cowed her; he'd just waved a red flag in front of a bull.