a red rag to a bull
a red rag to a bull (metaphor)
/ə rɛd ræɡ tu ə bʊl/
Meanings
- Something that provokes anger or an uncontrollable reaction in a person.
- A stimulus that triggers an aggressive or angry response.
- A deliberate provocation meant to elicit a strong negative reaction.
- (Literal) A red piece of cloth waved in front of a bull to provoke it to charge.
Synonyms: provocation; incitement; aggravation; stimulation of anger.
Example Sentences
- Mentioning politics around Sarah is a red rag to a bull – she immediately gets angry.
- The manager’s unfair decision was a red rag to a bull for the staff.
- Don’t bring up his past mistakes – it’s a red rag to a bull with him.
- (Literal) The matador waved a red rag to a bull during the bullfight.
Origin and History
The idiom “a red rag to a bull” signifies an action or statement that deliberately provokes anger or an intense reaction from someone. While the phrase is commonly associated with bullfighting, its origins are more nuanced and rooted in earlier linguistic and cultural contexts.
Early Linguistic Usage
The term “red rag” was used in the 17th century as a slang expression for the tongue. In this context, “to wag the red rag” meant to talk incessantly. This usage is documented as early as 1605 and is further illustrated in Francis Grose’s Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1785):
“Shut your potatoe trap, and give your redrag a holiday.”
It defines “redrag” as the tongue, suggesting that “shut your potatoe trap, and give your redrag a holiday” was an admonition to stop talking.
Association with Animals
The concept of using a red cloth to provoke animals predates its association with bulls. In the early 18th century, writers like John Trenchard and Thomas Gordon noted that animals such as turkeys and pheasants would react aggressively to a red rag. For instance, in Cato’s Letters (1724), they wrote:
“Foxes are trapann’d [trapped] by Traces, Pheasants by a red Rag, and other Birds by a Whistle; and the same is true of Mankind.”
Introduction of Bulls
The specific association of a red rag with bulls emerged later. In 1822, Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine published an article stating:
“The Bulls of Bashan are all roaring against him, and will toss and tear him to pieces like a red rag.”
It draws a metaphorical connection between the bulls’ aggression and the provocation implied by a red rag.
Scientific Clarification
Contrary to popular belief, bulls are colorblind and do not react to the color red. Their aggression is triggered by the movement of the cape, not its color. The misconception likely arose from the association of red with danger and aggression in human culture, which was then applied to the behavior of bulls in bullfighting.
Earliest Figurative Use in Print
The earliest known printed use of the exact form of idiom “a red rag to a bull” appears in Charlotte Yonge’s novel Pillars of the House (1873), where it is used metaphorically to describe something that provokes a strong reaction:
“Jack will do for himself if he tells Wilmet her eyes are violet; it is like a red rag to a bull.”
Origin Conclusion
The idiom “a red rag to a bull” evolved from early slang referring to the tongue, through associations with animal behavior, to its current usage as a metaphor for provocation. Its development reflects a blend of linguistic creativity and cultural interpretations, culminating in a phrase that vividly conveys the concept of deliberate incitement.
Variants
- like waving a red rag in front of a bull
- red flag to a bull
Similar Idioms
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