Wave the white flag
Meaning
To signal surrender or to admit defeat in a conflict or argument.
Origin
The use of a white flag as a universal symbol of truce or surrender dates back to ancient times. Roman historian Tacitus, in his Histories, documented the use of white flags by the defeated Vitelian soldiers in 69 AD, signaling their intent to surrender to the Flavian forces. While other cultures might have used different signals, the stark visibility of a white cloth against any background made it a practical and unmistakable choice on battlefields across continents, eventually becoming the internationally recognized emblem for ceasing hostilities.
Examples
- After hours of fruitless debate, she decided to wave the white flag and agree to their terms.
- The exhausted team finally had to wave the white flag, conceding the game to their stronger opponents.