Run it up the flagpole

Definitions

• Testing the popularity or reception of a new idea or proposal
  To present or introduce an idea or plan to a group for their feedback or opinion

• Trying something out or experimenting
  To see if a certain approach or strategy will be successful before fully committing to it

• Showing off or boasting
  To flaunt or display something in a showy or ostentatious manner

• Raising an issue or concern
  To bring up a topic or problem for discussion or consideration

Examples of Run it up the flagpole

• "Let's run this idea up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes."

  This idiom is used to describe testing an idea or proposal with a group of people to gauge their reaction. The phrase "run it up the flagpole" refers to raising a flag to the top of a flagpole as a signal or message. In this context, the idea is being presented as a flag to see if it receives a positive response, much like a salute to a raised flag.

Conclusion

The idiom "run it up the flagpole" can be used in various contexts, but the main intention is to test or gauge the response to a new idea or proposal. It can also be used to describe trying something out or showing off, but these meanings are less commonly used.

In the first sense, the idiom is often used in a business or professional setting, where someone may present a new idea or plan to a group for their feedback or opinion. It can also be used in a more casual setting, such as among friends, when someone wants to see how their idea will be received before fully committing to it.

In the second sense, "run it up the flagpole" can be used to describe trying out a new approach or strategy before fully committing to it. This can be seen in sports or other competitive situations, where a team may experiment with different tactics to see which one will be most successful.

Lastly, the idiom can also be used in a more negative sense, to describe someone who is showing off or boasting about something in a showy or ostentatious manner. This can be seen as a form of bragging or trying to impress others with one's achievements or possessions.

Origin of "Run it up the flagpole"

The origin of the idiom "run it up the flagpole" is believed to come from the military tradition of running a flag up a flagpole to signal a new or important message. In the 1950s, it was used in advertising, where companies would "run up the flagpole" a new product or idea to see how it would be received by the public.

Over time, the idiom became more commonly used in everyday speech, and its meaning expanded to include testing or trying out any new idea or proposal. Today, it is a widely used idiom in both formal and informal contexts, and its origins are often forgotten or unknown by many who use it.