A red rag to a bull
Idioms & PhrasesHARD
something that provokes anger or strong reaction
A red rag to a bull
Idioms & PhrasesHARD
something that provokes anger or strong reaction
Learning Progress
Examples
"The new safety rules were a red rag to a bull for the old guard who wanted no change."
"Her sarcastic remark was a red rag to a bull and he exploded in response."
Mnemonic Trick
Visual: imagine waving a red rag to provoke a bull (metaphor).
Cultural Context
British origin; used metaphorically to indicate provocation.
Source: Idioms & PhrasesAdded: 11/13/2025
Continue Learning
Community Stats
Active Learners55
Words Being Learned146
Words Mastered434
Track Your Progress
Sign up to save your favorite words and track your learning progress across all vocabulary types.