raise red flags
Indicate potential problems
To raise red flags is to trigger warning signs or cause concern about potential problems.
The image comes from literal warning flags—signals of danger.
Something that raises red flags deserves closer scrutiny: His evasive answers raised red flags with the investigators.
A person's behavior, a contract clause, or financial irregularities can all raise red flags.
- signalingConveying information nonverbally
- warningAlert about danger
- doubtLack of firm belief
- alarmUrgent warning signal
- red alertTop emergency warning state
sound the alarm · alert · skepticism · indicator · concern · threat · suspicion · risky · trigger · questionable · too good to be true · precursor · deal breaker · notify · scrutiny · background check · caution · proceed with caution
raise red flagsreassure
Ease someone's doubts
give the green light · put at ease · pass muster · ring true · check out
raise red flagscover up
Conceal misdeeds or errors
gloss over · paper over · whitewash · fly under the radar · slip through the cracks
raise, raised, raising, raiser, raises, reddish, redden, reds, redder