To flag down somebody or something (or flag somebody or something down) is to signal or wave at the driver of a vehicle to get them to stop.
Examples of use:
1. Our camper van broke down on a quiet country road, and we had to flag down a passing motorist and ask for help.
2. It was pouring with rain so we decided to flag down a taxi.
3. The police officer flagged me down because one of my headlights wasn’t working.
4. They found a man lying unconscious in the street so they flagged down a passing police car.
5. She was about to give birth to her baby in the back of the car – fortunately her husband managed to flag down a passing ambulance!
infinitive |
flag down |
present simple |
flag down and flags down |
-ing form |
flagging down |
past simple |
flagged down |
past participle |
flagged down |
Practise your English by answering these questions (you can write your answer in the comments, or send it to me 🙂 ):
1. Have you ever flagged down a taxi?
2. Have you been flagged down by the police?
3. Has your car ever broken down?
Can you use the phrasal verb ‘flag down’ in your own sentence?
Image © Tim Herrick