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I thought it was *flag*

Posted by Brian from Shawnee on October 14, 2004

In Reply to: Like a red rag to a bull posted by David FG on October 14, 2004

: : : : Where does the saying 'like a red rag to a bull' come from?

: : : The color red is supposed to enrage bulls. Actually it's probably the waving of the rag that attracts the bull's attention. I believe a bull is suppose to be color blind. Anyone know?

: : I heard that too. The capes that matadors use in bullfighting are red and that's where the phrase comes from.

: Bulls are certainly colour blind - which can be seen from the structure of their eyes, it is not merely a guess. It is the flapping movement which would attract a bull's attention (though in bull fighting, having had the 'pics' stuck into its shoulders first probably don't improve its temper very much either!)

I thought it was "like a red *flag* to a bull". I'd never heard the word "rag" used in this phrase.

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