green flag

A green flag is a sign that someone is a good, healthy match. It is the positive opposite of a red flag: a behavior that makes you trust someone more.

What does green flag mean?

Green flags are the reassuring things you notice while getting to know someone. They respect your boundaries, communicate clearly, are kind to people who can’t do anything for them, and stay consistent rather than hot and cold. One green flag doesn’t guarantee a great relationship, but a pattern of them is a good sign.

Examples of green flags

• They make plans and stick to them.
• They are honest even when it’s awkward.
• They ask questions and remember what you said.
• They are polite to staff and strangers.
• They respect a “no” without sulking.

How to use it

• “He asked if I got home safe. Green flag.”
• “She apologized without making excuses. That’s a green flag.”
• “Has a close relationship with his sister 🟢”
• “Big green flag: he’s friends with his exes and there’s no drama.”

Where it comes from

“Green flag” grew as a counterpart to the much older figurative “red flag,” borrowing from signal flags where green means safe to go. It became popular dating slang on social media and TikTok in the late 2010s and early 2020s, often paired with “red flag” in list videos.

Related terms

• red flag: a warning sign
• beige flag: a quirky, neutral trait
• ick: a sudden turn-off
• situationship: a relationship with no label
• love bombing: affection used to manipulate

See more terms like this in our dating slang dictionary.