Idiom
With flying colors
To do something with flying colors means to do it very successfully, often passing a test easily.
How people use it
The phrase almost always appears with pass: "She passed with flying colors." It also works with "come through" and "finish." People use it for exams, inspections, auditions, driving tests and challenges. The tone is informal to neutral and always positive. British English spells the last word with a u, but the meaning is the same.
Also said: pass with flying colors.
Examples
- Maya passed her driving test with flying colors.
- The old bridge came through the safety inspection with flying colors.
- Ben finished his first marathon with flying colors.
Where it comes from
The phrase comes from sailing ships. A naval ship returning from a victory would sail into port with its flags, called colors, flying high from the masts, while a defeated ship lowered its flags. The figurative sense of a clear success was in English use by the 1700s.
Check yourself
1. If you pass an exam with flying colors, how did you do?
Answer: Very well. With flying colors means with great success.
2. Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Answer: The restaurant passed its health inspection with flying colors.. The idiom describes a clear success, not failure or painting.
Similar idioms
Word game fan? See every word hiding in COLORS.