Red flags. These are headlines of things to look out for. Never buy bananas when you see these red flags. But there aren't any red flags anymore.
Red flags in the early 1600s signalled naval ships and military forces were ready for battle, or to indicate no mercy would be given. By the lates 1700s they warned of environmental hazards like floods. Later, railways and roadways used red flags as signals. Then red flags were a symbol for left-wing politics, socialism and communism in the mid-1800s with the French Revolution. And then? It transitioned into an everyday expression. A warning sign, hidden danger, or unacceptable behaviour.
In a banana? A dull, grayish, or smoky peel on green bananas is a warning sign that they have been in freezing or near-freezing temperatures during transport. Green bananas won't ripen normally. That's bananas.
As red flags entered the social realm, they really took off There are all kinds of "red flag" behaviours - you can go to bored panda or reddit to get a lengthy and emotional discussion of what some red flags are in every day life. As I checked out a few, some of them sounded like pet peeves. But the supposed difference is that a red flag is a serious warning sign of toxic or abusive behaviour, while a pet peeve is simply a minor, annoying habit that irritates you (toilet set up or down.) There seems to be a lot of advice happening whichever way one experiences things like toilet sets up or down.
I guess the historical roots of red flags continue - serious things like wars and floods. It is that expression "in love or war". So when it comes to love, it is like war, with lots of red flag jokes:
Forgetting the birthday is a red flag. Eating someone else's cake is a bigger red flag. Blowing out someone else's candles is a giant red flag. Saying you are "29 again" is a classic red flag. Giving yourself the biggest slice is very suspicious.
Here's a corner scene at the Watering Can. You can shovel those red flags into the red box.
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