strike the colors
Lower the flag
To strike the colors is to lower a ship's flag as a signal of surrender.
In naval warfare, a vessel's ensign flying indicated continued resistance; hauling it down meant capitulation: The captain ordered the crew to strike the colors after the hull was breached.
The phrase extends to any formal admission of defeat or submission.
- acquiesceSubmit without protest
- submitPresent for consideration
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
- white flagSignal of capitulation
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
give up · capitulation · lay down arms · pennant · yield · cry uncle · call it quits · ensign · ceasefire · armistice · resign · succumb · relinquish · abandon · defer · truce · forfeit · parley
surrender vs. resistance
strike the colorsfight on
Continue resisting or struggling
fight to the death · never surrender · hold out · resist · hold the line
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