at half-mast

at half-mast

Partially raised or lowered. The phrase most often describes a flag that has been lowered to honor a recently-deceased person. After our former president died, flags were at half-mast all across the country. My daughter came home from the park covered in dirt, her ponytail at half-mast.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

at half-mast

 and at half-staff
[of a flag] halfway up or down its flagpole. The flag was flying at half-mast because the general had died. Americans fly flags at half-staff on Memorial Day.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

at half-mast

Halfway up or down, as in The church bells tolled off and on all day and the flags were at half-mast. This term refers to placing a flag halfway up a ship's mast or flagpole, a practice used as a mark of respect for a person who has died or, at sea, as a distress signal. Occasionally the term is transferred to other objects, as in Tom's pants were at half-mast as he raced around the playground, or The puppy's tail was at half-mast. [First half of 1600s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • mast
  • staff
  • be at half-mast
  • at half-staff
  • keep down
  • keep it down
  • here lies (someone)
  • a penny for them
  • lower the bar
  • nine tailors make a man
References in classic literature
The flag was run up at half-mast, and, this being the signal of distress, it was hoped that the American steamer, perceiving it, would change her course a little, so as to succour the pilot-boat.
Around The World In Eighty Days
Flags in all official institutions and administrations will be flown at half-mast throughout this period.
Death of Caid Essebsi: Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine decree national mourning
Malacanang has ordered the Philippine flag to be flown at half-mast across the country on Sunday to mourn the passing of National Artist for Architecture Francisco 'Bobby' Manosa.
Flags flying at half-mast on Sunday to mourn passing of National Artist Bobby Manosa
Cotabato City schools asked to fly flags at half-mast for mall blast victims !-- -- John Unson (philstar.com) - January 6, 2019 - 2:02pm COTABATO CITY, Philippines The mayor of Cotabato City on Sunday asked school officials to raise the Philippine flag in campuses at half-mast for five days in sympathy with the victims of the December 31 bombing in a shopping mall in the city.
Cotabato City schools asked to fly flags at half-mast for mall blast victims
When a flag flies at half-mast on a flag pole, it is a sign of respect for somebody who has passed on, usually somebody who is of great importance to a country or group of people.
Growth spurts and successes
The flag is also at half-mast for the funerals of members of the Royal Family, foreign rulers, and Prime Ministers - and "any other occasion where Her Majesty has given special command".
Wirral council flying the flag for protocol
ySTANBUL (CyHAN)- Flags were flied at half-mast at countries' consulate generals, located in ystanbul on Wednesday to protest the terrorist attacks, which were occurred on Tuesday in Belgium's Brussels Zaventem Airport and subway station.
Consulate generals' flags flied at half-mast in Istanbul
Simon Thomas, Plaid Cymru AM for Mid and West Wales, criticised the Welsh Government after it flew flags at half-mast following the death of Saudi King Abdullah back in January, calling it a "gutless disgrace".
Fly flags at half-mast? The decision is Carwyn's
In the federal capital, national flag was hoisted at half-mast at government buildings including the Presidency, the Prime Ministers House, Parliament House, Supreme Court and.
A day of mourning observed across country
FLAGS flew at half-mast in Queensgate, Huddersfield, in memory of the French terror attack victims.
University in flags tribute for victims
Summary: Flags were flown at half-mast in Whitehaven to mark the first anniversary of the Derrick Bird shooting spree in Cumbria.
Two-minute silence for victims of Cumbria shooting
At the college today, flags were flying at half-mast.
MENINGITIS CLAIMS PUPIL'S LIFE; Second schoolboy moved out of intensive care
FLAGS flew at half-mast in Washington as Barack Obama and his wife Michelle attended a ceremony to remember the six people who died in the Tucson shootings.
A NATION'S PAIN
ANKARA, Apr 14, 2010 (TUR) -- All Turkish flags in Turkey and representations overseas will be at half-mast on Sunday, April 18, the day when a funeral ceremony will take place for the late Polish President Lech Kaczynski.
(DIP) ALL TURKISH FLAGS TO BE AT HALF-MAST ON SUNDAY FOR LATE POLISH PRESIDENT