QI | What Do These Flags Mean?

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 4 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 109

  • @Wolf6119
    @Wolf6119 5 років тому +401

    Stephen's lucky that Phil Jupitus and Bill Bailey weren't on to hear that "nanny" comment, they would have ripped him to shreds.

  • @bsjeffrey
    @bsjeffrey 5 років тому +308

    i can't believe they didn't use the z or 'i require a tug' flag.

  • @leem4386
    @leem4386 5 років тому +273

    God I miss Stephen Fry on this show. Sandy is brilliant too obviously but I always come back to the Stephen episodes.

  • @cloudsparrow7729
    @cloudsparrow7729 4 роки тому +24

    Admiral Togo's signal to the Japanese fleet before the battle of Tsushima in 1905 was deliberately virtually the same as Nelson's at Trafalgar. The first full sea battle using modern warships, and the Russian Baltic fleet was decimated

  • @growlerthedog
    @growlerthedog 5 років тому +100

    I'm waiting for the outro where Sandi grabs a bottle instead of a book.

  • @lpsp442
    @lpsp442 5 років тому +22

    Unearthing bits of Stephen Fry's nascent psychology through flags

  • @WilliamSmith-mx6ze
    @WilliamSmith-mx6ze 2 місяці тому +1

    0:45 N is in fact blue and white chequers; the flag shown on the screen there in fact indicates the end of a Formula One race.

  • @kevinduffy80
    @kevinduffy80 5 років тому +37

    If the ship you were sailing on was part of a fleet then hoisting flag O (OSCAR) would inform the other ships that you had a man overboard

  • @nicopillay4059
    @nicopillay4059 3 місяці тому +2

    Rob Brydon pre-hair transplant was Welsh menace. Proper cheeky bollocks

  • @WalkaCrookedLine
    @WalkaCrookedLine 4 роки тому +8

    Stephen's "do your duty" remark sounded just like my grandmother. I may be getting old.

    • @DanDownunda8888
      @DanDownunda8888 2 роки тому

      A cousin of mine used to call out "Good Boy!" to his mother immediately after having a crap. Zoomorphic perhaps? They did have three very well toilet trained dogs. :)

  • @SirLyonhart
    @SirLyonhart 5 років тому +78

    It's rumored that the Royal Navy uses T for "It's 4 O'clock, don't bother us for about an hour."

  • @UKG_BPM_138
    @UKG_BPM_138 5 років тому +28

    Rob Brydon’s hairline will *not* thank you for that thumbnail.

    • @howardsend6589
      @howardsend6589 5 років тому +4

      Ben Smith What hairline? Shredded wheat commercial.

  • @welshpete12
    @welshpete12 4 роки тому +4

    These signal flags were mainly in use before radio . But some are still in use everyday now . A oiltanker still flies a red flag , which is the letter "B" . And means I'm carrying a dangerous cargo , keep clear of me. . Many ships, including cross channel ferries fly a letter "H" . when means I have a pilot on board . Still in the code book is the signal , " SO2 ". Which is , " Stop do not use your radio or I shall fire on you ".

    • @andrewclayton4181
      @andrewclayton4181 2 роки тому

      They are still useful if you want to maintain radio silence. Aldis lamps are useful too.

  • @JoeBleasdaleReal
    @JoeBleasdaleReal 5 років тому +12

    The way he says “have a poooooo” 😂😂😂😂😂

    • @alfnoakes392
      @alfnoakes392 5 років тому +1

      That was how my Gran used to say it too ...

  • @tricesimo
    @tricesimo 5 років тому +44

    That last one is a very digitized version of the flag of Japan.

    • @welshpete12
      @welshpete12 4 роки тому

      It's the letter "I" in the International code .

    • @Outside85
      @Outside85 4 роки тому

      very low resolution.

    • @Phlebas
      @Phlebas 4 роки тому

      Flag of Japan in 12 pixels

  • @baddog5936
    @baddog5936 5 років тому +22

    I was gonna say, is it the flag for Blue Whale sighted?

  • @BambooAcrobatVerte
    @BambooAcrobatVerte 3 роки тому +2

    Stephen talking about Lord Nelson when he in fact played Nelson in Blackadder the Third is one of the most comfortable examples of meta.

  • @ClarinoI
    @ClarinoI 3 роки тому +19

    Sometimes one forgets just how posh Stephen is. Then he goes and says something like that and reminds us.

  • @gavinkemp7920
    @gavinkemp7920 5 років тому +21

    I love how steven fry systematically fails at trying to not look posh. i have a colleague who systematically fails at not seeming old.

  • @romulusnr
    @romulusnr 3 роки тому +1

    I believe they usually only had one of each flag, which is why they also had the "repeat" flags meaning "repeat flag 1/2/3".

  • @Casteverus
    @Casteverus 5 років тому +305

    F is for "I'm disabled" because it means "Press F to pay respects"

    • @bnap3221
      @bnap3221 5 років тому +1

      F

    • @Outside85
      @Outside85 4 роки тому

      No, I just need a push up the ramp, man, you dont need to kneel besides me!

    • @qualicumwilson5168
      @qualicumwilson5168 3 роки тому

      you mean "f" stands for "all "f***ed up"?

  • @DaemonEX0
    @DaemonEX0 5 років тому +7

    Ooh, neat, a special episode of 'Fun with Flags'.

  • @fydofire
    @fydofire 5 років тому +4

    Pretty sure one of those meant: „Wanna play some chess ?“

  • @AIRTIME96
    @AIRTIME96 5 років тому +38

    Rob Brydon seems to have regrown his hair in recent years...

  • @Jezidka
    @Jezidka 4 роки тому +3

    Gosh I know nothing on flags. I thought the checkered flag was the finish flag

    • @andrewclayton4181
      @andrewclayton4181 2 роки тому

      I think that one was. The N flag should be blue and white checks.

  • @philipmonihan8222
    @philipmonihan8222 4 роки тому +1

    Don't worry, Stephen. I got the do your doodie joke.

  • @legendofFranktheTank
    @legendofFranktheTank 3 роки тому +2

    My personal favorite is flag z which means "I require a tug"

  • @tipperary1082
    @tipperary1082 5 років тому +5

    That was quite interesting.

  • @proffmongo
    @proffmongo 5 років тому +3

    But what were the flags in "Wuthering Heights in Semaphore?"

    • @beeble2003
      @beeble2003 3 роки тому

      Flag semaphore doesn't require any particular flag. At sea, it's usually done with the "O" flag shown in this clip; on land it's normally the "P" flag, which is a white square on a blue background. I have no idea why different flags are used...

  • @k1ckyscotland988
    @k1ckyscotland988 5 років тому +5

    I knew Brydon had taken to wearing a dead mammal on his bonce!.

  • @chrisstar969
    @chrisstar969 5 років тому +6

    Ironically, I’m “doing my duty” watching this...

  • @MH5tube
    @MH5tube 5 років тому +2

    I can't tell if that's Stephen's worst or best joke

  • @grendelum
    @grendelum 5 років тому +4

    omg, I’m partially disabled and I didn’t know about the 3rd flag !! I must have one now...

  • @leeihaka1039
    @leeihaka1039 5 років тому +5

    Steven Fry is life

    • @AussieOddball
      @AussieOddball 5 років тому +2

      Steven Fry is Love.

    • @CJ_YT.
      @CJ_YT. 5 років тому +1

      Stephen Fry is spelt correctly.

  • @Elitist20
    @Elitist20 5 років тому +2

    I've read that for 'England Expects' they actually had to spell out D - U - T - Y.

    • @sirderam1
      @sirderam1 5 років тому +3

      Nelson asked his Flag Lieutenant to make the signal, "England confides that every man will do his duty." quickly as he had another signal to make to the fleet. His flag Lieutenant suggested that, to save time, he substitute "expects" for "confides" as there was no code flag for confides and it would have to be spelled out alphabetically with individual flags. "Duty" was spelled out alphabetically, but it was only four letters so it didn't take long. Thus the famous signal was born. The word confides, in this situation meant, "is confident".

    • @Ambidexter143
      @Ambidexter143 5 років тому +2

      @@sirderam1 Nelson's second in command, Sir Cuthbert Collingwood, was rather annoyed at Nelson's signal. He told his Flag Captain, "I have always done my duty." However Collingwood had no problem with Nelson's next signal, which was hoisted when the two fleets were out of cannon range of each other: "Engage the enemy more closely."

    • @sirderam1
      @sirderam1 5 років тому +3

      @@Ambidexter143
      Indeed, I have read that some people were a little annoyed at the implication that they might not do their duty. The signal No. 16, "Engage the enemy more closely." was his last signal to the Fleet. Nelson believed very much in getting in close and pounding the enemy with rapid canon fire, especially from his favourite, short range but heavy, carronades, his "smashers", then boarding in the smoke. He had used Signal No.16 as his last fleet signal in three battles. So it had almost become a battle cry for him. It remained flying until it was shot away during the battle.
      He did make one further signal to an individual ship that was beginning to overtake HMS Victory telling it to fall back into line.

  • @professornuke7562
    @professornuke7562 Рік тому

    My ex brother-in -law has Zulu flag tattooed on his pubis. He is also ex Royal Australian Navy, so he knows full well that he has "I NEED A TUG" tattooed down there.

  • @PtolemyJones
    @PtolemyJones 3 роки тому

    I was curious what the fellow on the left thought the message really was.

  • @jamesrivettcarnac
    @jamesrivettcarnac 3 роки тому

    You use overboard when doing water skiing, and someone is overboard

  • @TheKira699
    @TheKira699 4 роки тому

    What not a lot of people know is that during WW2, the Americans had an entirely different flag system, and because they couldn't read the British one (which includes all Commonwealth Navies), WE had to switch to the American one.

    • @qualicumwilson5168
      @qualicumwilson5168 3 роки тому

      Trump was alive then? Wow.

    • @TheKira699
      @TheKira699 3 роки тому

      @@qualicumwilson5168 What you talking about? His father, the cowardly mongrel was.

  • @lycos94
    @lycos94 3 роки тому

    i need one of those disabled flags , but instead it should be ''dont talk to me''

  • @sopcannon
    @sopcannon 5 років тому +5

    Fun with flags.

  • @AnnaAnna-uc2ff
    @AnnaAnna-uc2ff 2 місяці тому

    oh my

  • @fleakletheotter
    @fleakletheotter 5 років тому

    I’m subscribed already! :S

    • @Dudemon-1
      @Dudemon-1 5 років тому

      James Dalby -- Yes, such wonderful videos, marred by Sandi begging and sighing at the end.

  • @Jekubman
    @Jekubman 4 роки тому +1

    That disabled flag looks like a very low res Japanese flag.

  • @stitcha123
    @stitcha123 4 роки тому +1

    BLACK. BLACK. BLAAAAACCCCK

  • @nerdytom6881
    @nerdytom6881 5 років тому

    D.U.T.Y. had to be spelled out by letter flags as that word wasn't on the shortcode list either.

    • @Ambidexter143
      @Ambidexter143 5 років тому +1

      No words with four or fewer letters were in the code book because most coded flag hoists had four flags.

    • @StormcloudLive
      @StormcloudLive 4 роки тому

      @@Ambidexter143 the word "do" in the phrase having a flag arrangement would disagree with you

  • @NewMessage
    @NewMessage 5 років тому +9

    _Sheldon Cooper has joined the chat_

  • @Doivid_
    @Doivid_ 4 роки тому

    If each flag is a letter then... I dunno, why not put letters on them? I mean, yeah - they want to keep communication secret but surely the other side has people that can recognize patterns.

    • @Matelot123
      @Matelot123 2 роки тому

      The flags cant be letters because you'd have trouble identifying the letter with the flag flapping around from a distance. They also aren't used to convey anything secret just essential knowledge for other vessels around such as Flag Bravo which means " I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous cargo" and is flown from the yardarm on warships when they are about to open fire with a weapon system

  • @RIXRADvidz
    @RIXRADvidz 5 років тому +2

    I Always Fly My Freak Flag !! Woo Hoo!!!

  • @merwen33
    @merwen33 5 років тому

    What a terrible tie

  • @LoessieProject
    @LoessieProject 5 років тому +1

    😏😶😎
    Relevant Flag in the Making... part; design... for privacy only ... good sparking 4 idea, cheerio's , team of Q i including Sir S.F. only if relevant.. Offcoursche.

    • @CreamySun582
      @CreamySun582 5 років тому +4

      The language of the Gods

    • @georgesmith8072
      @georgesmith8072 5 років тому +6

      LoessieProject I like how this comment is edited as if it makes any sense now. It only makes me wonder what the hell it said before

    • @LoessieProject
      @LoessieProject 5 років тому

      Might become public visible art, after me soul decided 2 Move On. Thén it will All Bekom Clear... ly visiblablabla 🤗😎

  • @xyz.ijk.
    @xyz.ijk. 5 років тому

    Hilarious three minutes

  • @santos.l.halper1999
    @santos.l.halper1999 3 роки тому

    He said poo

  • @Harcix
    @Harcix 5 років тому +1

    1:14 Thats how Japanese see their flag

  • @qualifiedidiots2165
    @qualifiedidiots2165 4 роки тому

    Click bait.
    It’s not a QI video without the alarm going off.

  • @562LBLegend
    @562LBLegend 3 роки тому

    Best flag message. Is MIP. Mike India papa. Patient has diarrhea, stool like rice water

  • @ProjectFlashlight612
    @ProjectFlashlight612 5 років тому

    Who cares?

  • @ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095
    @ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095 2 роки тому

    I loved Sandi Toksvig on _The News Quiz,_ but her turning up *EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.* at the end of these videos and saying *EXACTLY. THE. SAME. THING.* is really stinking the place up. Why? Why ruin a good clip with utter tedium?
    It's not even her fault, it's the fault of whoever uploaded these clips. And as I stop the video as soon as she appears, I do not count as a full view for UA-cam's algorithm.
    {:o:O:}

  • @kamuzu
    @kamuzu 4 роки тому +1

    Such an awkward show, with the forced attempt at humour. Would be a far superior show without the lame attempts.

    • @gwishart
      @gwishart 4 роки тому +3

      You think QI would be better without the humour? You sound like a right miserable old bugger.