with flying colors
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Related to with flying colors: pass 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!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 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.
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.
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 .
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.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
with flying colors
mod. flamboyantly; boldly. Paul came home with flying colors after the match.
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.
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.