Like waving a red flag in front of a bull In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "like waving a red flag in front of a bull", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

author Helen Nguyen calendar 2021-02-20 09:02

Meaning of Like waving a red flag in front of a bull

Synonyms:

Step on Your Toes , stick in (one's) craw , to ruffle someone's feathers

Like waving a red flag in front of a bull American phrase

It can also be phrased as "like a red rag to a bull" in the UK.

Provoke the anger of someone 

When I mentioned my husband's business failure, this was like waving a red flag in front of a bull

Joking about her height is like waving a red flag in front of a bull.

Other phrases about:

cry foul

To complain that something is unfair or illegal.

Stupid-o'clock
 A period of time in a day which revolves around 1 a.m to 5 a.m, it is considered unreasonable to do anything in this period.
flip (one's) wig

Suddenly become crazy or very angry or lose control

twist the lion's tail

To provoke a person, group, nation, ect.

gol dang

Used to express your displeasure

Origin of Like waving a red flag in front of a bull

The origin of this phrase was from bullfighting, but the first animal known to be susceptible to rag-waving was not bulls as we thought (Source: livescience.com)

It is easy to guess that the origin of this phrase was from bullfighting, but the first animal known to be susceptible to rag-waving was not bulls as we thought.

The waving of a cloth rag at an animal to distract it may have been a common practice for centuries, but it wasn't until the 1700s that it was documented in print. And surprisingly, the first creature to respond to this was that most dim-witted of birds, the pheasant. It wasn't until 1873 that someone decided that bulls were to be added to the list, when Charlotte Yonge included an allusion in the novel Pillars of the House:
"Jack will do for himself if he tells Wilmet her eyes are violet; it is like a red rag to a bull." (Source: phrase.org.uk)

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