debate vs run up a flagpole

debate

noun
  • An informal and spirited but generally civil discussion of opposing views. 

  • A type of literary composition, taking the form of a discussion or disputation, commonly found in the vernacular medieval poetry of many European countries, as well as in medieval Latin. 

  • Discussion of opposing views. 

  • An argument, or discussion, usually in an ordered or formal setting, often with more than two people, generally ending with a vote or other decision. 

verb
  • To consider (to oneself), to think over, to attempt to decide 

  • To participate in a debate; to dispute, argue, especially in a public arena. 

run up a flagpole

How often have the words debate and run up a flagpole occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )