hoist one’s flag—
1. (of an admiral) take up command:
- In May 1804, Northesk was promoted to the rank of rear-admiral, and, in the following month, hoisted his flag in the Britannia.
2. show one’s feelings or intentions:
- The discussion ranged round what we should do … but the parson hoisted his flag by saying that he himself did not propose to do anything.
hoist the flag—
1. stake one’s claim to discovered territory by displaying a flag:
- King and his party hoisted the flag on the island and the building of a storehouse began as a first necessity.
2. = hoist one’s flag 2:
- If you want something from a group of people … you generally don’t hoist the flag of your ill-intent toward them.
Note: The expression is not antonymous in meaning to the phrase haul down the flag—surrender; admit defeat:
- After several weeks of argument, the trade union leaders had to haul down the flag and accept the government’s earlier offer.