🚩 Red Flag
what it means
Used both seriously and as a joke. A row of 🚩 under a story is shorthand for "this person is a problem", with no explanation needed.
A warning sign about a person's behaviour, usually in dating.
the origin story
The triangular flag emoji was added in 2010; its slang use exploded through a viral 2021 Twitter format listing red flags.
The 2021 trend of posting "🚩🚩🚩" followed by a quoted phrase became one of the most-copied formats of that year. It also spread the underlying concept far beyond dating, into work, friendship and consumer contexts.
in the wild
He said he doesn't believe in apologising.
🚩🚩🚩
The job ad says "we're a family here".
Red flag.
how to use it
- Flagging concerning behaviour
- Dating and friendship conversations
- Joking about minor incompatibilities
- To dismiss someone over trivial differences
- In place of a real conversation about a concern
- Professionally
related terms
receipts
Community feedback
keep scrolling
Glow-Down
The opposite of a glow-up — appearing to have declined rather than improved.
Slept On
Underrated — overlooked despite being genuinely good.
Hot Girl Summer
A season spent being confident, unbothered and out enjoying yourself.
Cheat Code
A trick or advantage that makes something much easier than it should be.