# flag up

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/flag-up
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to mention something so that other people notice it or deal with it.

For teachers: to draw attention to a specific issue, fact, or problem for further consideration; often used in professional or administrative contexts to indicate a need for action.

## Examples

- I want to flag up a small problem with the schedule.
- The auditor decided to flag up several inconsistent entries in the company's financial reports.
- During the preliminary briefing, the lead researcher took a moment to flag up potential ethical concerns regarding the data collection methods.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He flagged the issue out to his boss." but "He flagged the issue up to his boss." — the correct particle for this meaning of highlighting an issue is 'up', not 'out'.

## Usage notes

- commonly used in British professional environments; the object can be placed after 'up' or between 'flag' and 'up'.
- Teaching tip: this is a useful alternative to 'point out' or 'highlight' in workplace English; note its strong association with British English compared to the American preference for 'flag' alone.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.