with flying colors

with flying colors

Exceptionally well or very successfully. Said especially of one's performance in a test, examination, competition, or training of some kind. Samantha was rather nervous taking her final exam, but she passed with flying colors! Your brother passed his apprenticeship with flying colors. He'll be a master builder in no time!

See also: color, flying

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

with flying colors

Cliché easily and excellently. John passed his geometry test with flying colors. Sally qualified for the race with flying colors.

See also: color, flying

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

with flying colours

COMMON If you achieve something, such as passing an examination, with flying colours, you achieve it easily and are very successful. Note: A ship's colours are its national flag. She passed the entrance exam with flying colors. Note: The image here is of a victorious battleship sailing back into port with its national flag flying.

See also: colour, flying

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

with flying colours

with distinction.

Formerly, in military contexts, flying colours meant having the regimental flag flying as a sign of success or victory; a conquered army usually had to lower (or strike ) its colours .

See also: colour, flying

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

with ˌflying ˈcolours

(British English) (American English with ˌflying ˈcolors) with great success: We expect your son to pass the exam with flying colours. ♢ She came through her French test with flying colours.In the past, if a ship or an army lost a battle it had to take down its colours (= the national flag). The ship or army that won a victory continued to show its flag.

See also: colour, flying

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

with flying colors

mod. flamboyantly; boldly. Paul came home with flying colors after the match.

See also: color, flying

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

with flying colors

With complete or outstanding success: passed the exam with flying colors.

See also: color, flying

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.