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flag up

B2 neutral separable transitive

In simple words

To tell someone about a problem or important thing so they know about it.

Literal meaning: Raising a flag to signal — 'up' implies raising the flag to make it visible.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

common

To draw someone's attention to a problem, issue, or important piece of information.

"I wanted to flag up a few concerns before we proceed with the project."

"Ministers have flagged up the need for additional funding."
— BBC News, political reporting, widely used phrasing

Grammar: separable

Usage notes

Very common in British English, especially in professional, journalistic, and governmental contexts. Less common in American English, where 'flag' alone or 'point out' is preferred. Often used in workplace communication.

Commonly used with

problem issue concern error risk discrepancy

Forms

Base

flag up

I/you/we/they

3rd person

flags up

he/she/it

Past simple

flaged up

yesterday

Past participle

flaged up

have + pp

-ing form

flaging up

continuous

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Synonyms

highlight point out raise draw attention to signal identify

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