lay down one's flag

verb

To surrender or resign, especially in a military context.

“Admiral Middlebrooks laid down his flag as a result of the humiliating defeat at the hands of France.”

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Meanings

verblay down one's flag (third-person singular simple present lays down one's flag, present participle laying down one's flag, simple past and past participle laid down one's flag)

present singular third person lays down one's flag · participle present laying down one's flag · participle past laid down one's flag · past laid down one's flag

  1. To surrender or resign, especially in a military context.

    Admiral Middlebrooks laid down his flag as a result of the humiliating defeat at the hands of France.

Cite this entry
APA

lay down one's flag. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20down%20one's%20flag

MLA

“lay down one's flag.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20down%20one's%20flag. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lay down one's flag,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lay%20down%20one's%20flag.

Source: lay down one's flag on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.