a coined
phrase meaning with all flags lowered or taken down, as a sign of
complete submission or surrender. Struck is a
form of the verb
strike and here means to lower, to let or take down or apart, as in to
strike a tent. Flags have been used since ancient
times as
identification symbols for royalty, military groups, tribes, nations, etc. In more recent
times they are usually held high on a
pole or flown at the top of the
mast of a
ship. In military engagements a lowered
flag signifies surrender.
a variation of to
strike the
flag, meaning to lower it, as in surrender.