half-mast
half-mast — noun
1. the spot on a pole where a flag hangs when people are publicly mourning a death
the spot on a pole where a flag hangs when people are publicly mourning a death or a terrible national event.
The embassy flew its national flag at half-mast after the former president passed away.
collocation: fly + flag + at half-mast
Flags at half-mast across the capital marked a day of national mourning for the earthquake victims.
The school principal ordered the flag at half-mast to honor the teacher who had died of an illness.
passive command: ordered + flag + at half-mast
When the attack happened, every government building lowered its flag to half-mast within an hour.
verb collocation: lower + flag + to half-mast
Crowds gathered silently around the square, where the flag had been set at half-mast since dawn.
- at half-mast
- fly at half-mast
- lower to half-mast
- flags at half-mast
- set at half-mast
- half-staff
Preferred in American English for flags on land-based poles, while half-mast is used for ships.
- full mast
The normal position of a flag at the top of the pole.
Grammar Patterns
at half-mast
Usage Note
The most common and traditional meaning. 'Mast' originally referred to a ship's mast, but the expression is now used for any flagpole. The flag is never flown at half-mast for happy events or celebrations.
Common Mistakes
2. the halfway setting of a movable object such as a window covering or door, when
the halfway setting of a movable object such as a window covering or door, when it is neither fully open nor fully closed.
The window shade was stuck at half-mast, letting in a narrow strip of morning light.
Mei-Lin pulled the bamboo blinds to half-mast so the afternoon sun would not heat the room too much.
collocation: pull + blinds + to half-mast
The garage door stopped at half-mast when its sensor detected a cat running underneath it.
Diego left the car window at half-mast to let some fresh air into the stuffy cabin.
collocation: leave + window + at half-mast
The old wooden shutters hung permanently at half-mast, their hinges too rusty to close fully.
- at half-mast
- pull to half-mast
- leave at half-mast
- stuck at half-mast
- stop at half-mast
Grammar Patterns
at half-mast
Usage Note
This use is an informal metaphor that extends the flag imagery to everyday household objects. Very common with blinds, shutters, car windows, and garage doors.
3. the way trousers sit when the waistband is down near the hips instead of up at t
the way trousers sit when the waistband is down near the hips instead of up at the waist, often done on purpose as a fashion style.
The teenager's trousers were at half-mast, showing off a pair of bright yellow socks.
pattern: [possessive] + trousers + at half-mast
The school dress code clearly stated that trousers must not be worn at half-mast.
Haruto's jeans were permanently set at half-mast, a look he copied from his favorite hip-hop artist.
An elderly man frowned at the young people walking through town with their trousers at half-mast.
When Mateo's belt broke during soccer practice, his shorts stayed at half-mast for the rest of the game.
humorous extension: belt breaks → shorts at half-mast
- trousers at half-mast
- pants at half-mast
- jeans at half-mast
- worn at half-mast
- set at half-mast
- sagging
The standard modern term for wearing trousers below the waist; half-mast is more humorous or old-fashioned.
Grammar Patterns
trousers at half-mast
pants at half-mast
Usage Note
Informal and often used humorously or critically by older generations to describe a style where the waistband sits below the hips. The expression transfers the 'lowered flag' image to clothing that has slipped or is worn low.
Common Mistakes
4. the way long trousers look when their legs finish somewhere between the knee and
the way long trousers look when their legs finish somewhere between the knee and the ankle, instead of reaching the shoe.
Sofia rolled up her jeans to half-mast so she could walk through the shallow stream without getting them wet.
verb pattern: roll up + clothes + to half-mast
The floodwaters had risen, so everyone kept their trousers at half-mast while wading through the street.
Yuki's new suit trousers were cut at half-mast, a fashionable style known as ankle-grazers.
After a growth spurt, Kenji's school trousers became permanently at half-mast and his mother had to buy new ones.
The tailor accidentally cut the trousers at half-mast, so the customer asked for them to be remade at full length.
unintentional result: tailor + cut + at half-mast
- trousers at half-mast
- jeans at half-mast
- cut at half-mast
- rolled to half-mast
- became at half-mast
- cropped trousers
The standard fashion term for trousers that end above the ankle; more neutral than half-mast.
- ankle-grazers
A colloquial fashion term for intentionally short trousers.
- full-length
Trousers that reach all the way to the foot or shoe.
Grammar Patterns
trousers at half-mast
pants at half-mast
Usage Note
British-influenced usage. Can describe either a deliberate fashion choice (cropped/ankle-length trousers) or an accidental shortness (outgrown or poorly tailored clothing). This sense is different from sense 3 — here the waist is at the normal position but the legs are short.
half-mast — adverb
1. in or into a lowered spot about midway on a flagpole, used publicly to show sadn
in or into a lowered spot about midway on a flagpole, used publicly to show sadness and honor when someone has died or after a disaster.
The flag flew half-mast from sunrise until sunset on the day of the state funeral.
collocation: fly + half-mast
All government flags were ordered to hang half-mast for thirty days after the tragedy.
passive command: ordered to hang half-mast
The national flag was flying half-mast above the presidential palace when the delegation arrived.
In a gesture of solidarity, the stadium flag flew half-mast during the memorial match for the fallen athletes.
The union leader asked the factory to fly the flag half-mast for the fallen workers.
request pattern: asked that + flag + be flown half-mast
- fly half-mast
- hang half-mast
- be flown half-mast
Grammar Patterns
fly half-mast
hang half-mast
Usage Note
The adverbial form always follows the verb directly: 'fly half-mast', 'hang half-mast'. It does not take an article or preposition. This is different from the noun form, which requires 'at' ('at half-mast').
Common Mistakes
half-mast — adjective
1. describing a flag that has been lowered to about the middle of the flagpole as a
describing a flag that has been lowered to about the middle of the flagpole as a sign of mourning or respect.
A half-mast flag hung over the entrance to the parliament building on the day of the funeral.
attributive use: half-mast flag
The half-mast flags along the highway reminded drivers that it was a national day of mourning.
Photographs showed a half-mast flag at the stadium during the tribute ceremony for the late coach.
The half-mast flag outside city hall fluttered gently in the cool autumn breeze.
Visitors noticed the half-mast flag and asked a guard what tragedy had occurred overnight.
- half-mast flag
- half-mast flags
Grammar Patterns
half-mast flag
Usage Note
Used only before the noun it modifies ('a half-mast flag'). Do not use it predicatively — you would not say 'The flag is half-mast' (instead say 'The flag is at half-mast').
Common Mistakes
2. describing a window, blind, shutter, or similar object that is positioned roughl
describing a window, blind, shutter, or similar object that is positioned roughly midway between fully open and fully closed, or between fully up and fully down.
The half-mast blinds cast long striped shadows across the kitchen floor in the late afternoon.
attributive use: half-mast blinds
Fatima adjusted the window to a half-mast position so the rain would not blow inside the room.
The half-mast garage door let the cat slip out but kept the dog safely inside the house.
Through the half-mast curtains, Amara watched the neighbors loading suitcases into their car.
A half-mast shutter rattled noisily whenever the strong coastal wind picked up during the storm.
- half-mast blind
- half-mast window
- half-mast position
- half-mast curtain
- half-mast shutter
Grammar Patterns
half-mast blind
half-mast window
half-mast position
Usage Note
This informal adjective use extends the flag metaphor to household objects, particularly windows, blinds, shutters, and doors. It is most natural with blinds and shutters.
3. describing trousers whose waistband sits low on the hips rather than at the natu
describing trousers whose waistband sits low on the hips rather than at the natural waistline, often as a deliberate fashion style.
The school banned half-mast trousers after many parents complained about the trend.
attributive use: half-mast trousers
A group of boys in half-mast jeans gathered outside the convenience store after school.
His half-mast trousers revealed a pair of bright red boxer shorts printed with cartoon animals.
Fashion magazines in the early 2000s showed celebrities wearing half-mast trousers on the red carpet.
The security guard at the mall told the teenager to pull up his half-mast pants before entering the store.
- half-mast trousers
- half-mast jeans
- half-mast pants
- half-mast shorts
- sagging
The standard adjective for this style; 'half-mast' sounds more humorous or old-fashioned.
Grammar Patterns
half-mast trousers
half-mast jeans
Usage Note
Describes a fashion style where the waistband sits below the hips. Became popular in the 1990s–2000s hip-hop scene. Often seen as rebellious or sloppy by older generations. This adjective sense applies only to trousers, jeans, and shorts, not to skirts or dresses.
Common Mistakes
4. describing long trousers whose legs are short enough to end somewhere between th
describing long trousers whose legs are short enough to end somewhere between the knee and the ankle, rather than reaching down to the foot.
The boutique sold half-mast trousers for men who wanted a cleaner, more modern look.
attributive use: half-mast trousers
Linnea's half-mast dress pants showed off a pair of elegant silver sandals at the summer wedding.
The tailor recommended half-mast trousers for the outdoor ceremony because the ground would be muddy.
After his growth spurt, Wei's school trousers became half-mast and his mother had to order new uniforms.
Half-mast trousers are popular in tropical countries because they let the ankles breathe in the heat.
- half-mast trousers
- half-mast jeans
- half-mast pants
- became half-mast
- cut half-mast
- cropped
The neutral fashion term; 'half-mast' is informal and sometimes humorous.
- ankle-length
More precise term for trousers that end just above the ankle.
- full-length
Trousers that reach the foot or shoe.
Grammar Patterns
half-mast trousers
Usage Note
This describes the leg length, not the waist position. The trousers fit normally at the waist but end above the ankle. Can be intentional (fashionable cropped trousers) or unintentional (outgrown children's clothes). Distinguish from sense 3, where the waist is worn low.
half-mast — verb
- half-mastpresent simple I / you / we / they
- half-masts3rd person singular
- half-masting-ing form
- half-mastedpast simple
1. to lower a flag to a position about halfway down the pole as a public sign of sa
to lower a flag to a position about halfway down the pole as a public sign of sadness and respect.
The government ordered all public buildings to half-mast their flags until the state funeral ended.
transitive use: half-mast + their flags
The caretaker half-masted the flag at dawn, following the instructions from the mayor's office.
past tense: half-masted the flag
The stadium crew half-masted the enormous flag before the memorial concert began in the evening.
In a show of respect, the navy half-masted its flags on every ship anchored in the harbor.
The students asked the principal to half-mast the school flag in memory of their classmate who had died.
request pattern: asked + to half-mast + flag
- half-mast the flag
- half-mast flags
- lower
The neutral verb; 'half-mast' is more specific about the exact position.
- raise
To put the flag back to the top of the pole.
Grammar Patterns
half-mast + flag
half-masted + flag
Usage Note
This is a transitive verb — it always takes an object (the flag being lowered). The past tense is 'half-masted'. It is less common than the noun or adverb forms; people more often say 'lower the flag to half-mast' than 'half-mast the flag'.
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
The main distinction is regional: 'half-staff' is the standard term in American English for flags on land-based poles (e.g., 'the governor ordered flags at half-staff'), while 'half-mast' is used for flags on ships. In British English, 'half-mast' is used for all flagpoles regardless of location. 'Lowered flag' is a general descriptive phrase without the ceremonial weight — it simply describes the physical position. 'Mourning flag' is not a fixed term but a contextual description used in news reports ('flags flew as a mourning flag'). For learners, the safest choice is 'at half-mast' (British) or 'at half-staff' (American), used with the verb 'fly' or 'hang'. Example: 'The White House flew the flag at half-staff for the former first lady.' (US) / 'Buckingham Palace flew the flag at half-mast.' (UK).
Common collocations
Etymology
The term 'half-mast' comes from nautical language, where 'mast' refers to the tall pole on a ship that holds the sails and flags. The practice of lowering flags to signal mourning dates back to at least the 17th century. According to tradition, the space at the top of the mast was left empty for the 'invisible flag of death.' The expression spread from ships to land-based flagpoles in the 18th and 19th centuries. By the 20th century, the word had also developed informal metaphorical uses for anything in a halfway position, from window blinds to trouser legs.
First known use
1800
1800, in the meaning defined above Verb