at half-mast

1. At a position halfway up a flagpole. Most often used to describe 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. Flags on the campus are at half-mast after the headmaster's sudden death. We keep our flags at half-mast on that day every year, in remembrance of all those who died in the conflict.

2. At a lower position than is normal or acceptable. I had been walking around the office all morning before realizing that my zipper was at half-mast. When my daughter came home from the park, she was covered in dirt, and her ponytail was at half-mast. You won't catch anything holding your fishing pole at half-mast like that.

3. vulgar slang Of or having a partial erection (of the penis). Wow, I only caught a glimpse of my wife in that skimpy outfit and I'm already at half-mast! Ugh, it was so embarrassing—the teacher asked me to go to the blackboard, but I couldn't hide that I was at half-mast at the time!

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.

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. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

See also:

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.

View in context

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

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

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