Welcome to the English we speak. I'm Beth and I'm Faye.

We have an expression for a behavior or habit someone has

that you find strange or unusual

but doesn't put you off or make you not like the person. The expression is

beige flag. Now beige is a pale yellow or grey colour but beige flag? Beth can you tell us a bit more?

Well a beige flag is neutral. It's different to a red flag which generally

means danger and a green flag which is a positive thing in the

speaker's opinion. Now I recently went on a date with a guy and when he left he said see you later alligator and I found that a bit of a

beige flag yeah isn't that something kids say it doesn't make you not want to see him again but I understand why you found

it a bit weird. Also he said he doesn't like any vegetables it's not an immediate

concern but it does make me pause and question how healthy he is.

I know exactly what you mean. It's not something that makes you think he's a bad or dangerous person, but it's not really something you like about him.

Indeed, they are beige flags. Okay, let's hear some more examples.

Ironing, bitch, I'm ironing bedsheets is a beige flag for me. Why do it when you're just going to sleep in them? I really like him, but he wants me to start going to the gym with him.

That's a beige flag right?

Martin always drinks cold coffee even in the winter.

It's a beige flag. You're listening to the English we speak from BBC Learning English.

And we're learning the expression,

beige flag, which is a way of describing a habit you find strange,

but doesn't put you off a person completely.

Now, Beige flags are very common in dating dating but you can also use it to describe a colleague for example.

Yes, you seem to yourself all day in the office.

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