freak flagn.
/ˈfriːk flaɡ/, U.S. /ˈfrik ˌflæɡ/ colloquial (chiefly North American).
A trait or series of traits regarded as unconventional, esp. when exhibited openly, proudly, or defiantly. Chiefly in phrases as to let one's freak flag fly, to wave one's freak flag high, etc.: to openly or proudly exhibit such traits.
ΚΠ
1967 J. Hendrix If 6 was 9 (song) in ‘Jimi Hendrix Experience’ Axis: Bold as Love (record sleeve notes) I'm gonna wave my freak flag high.
1988 Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin) 30 Apr. 20/1 Commuting to work by bike was akin to carrying an alfalfa sprout and goat cheese sandwich (on wheat) into the company lunch room. Let the freak flag fly.
1998 Strategy (Nexis) 11 May b3 Flying in the face of convention, waving your freak flag high.
2005 Colorado Springs Gaz. 16 Dec. (Go Suppl.) 6/2 ‘You've got a freak flag,’ he tells Meredith, as if he's the only guy in this house who ‘gets’ her.
2010 Financial Times 19 June 13/5 I've become pleasantly haunted by my brief era of teenaged hippiedom, of letting the old freak flag fly.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2017; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1967