with flying colors

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!
See also: color, flying
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.
See also:
  • not a peep from/out of (someone)
  • past caring
  • (way) past caring
  • have a whale of a (good) time
  • have a whale of a time
  • a whale of a (good) time
  • pour (one's) heart out (to someone)
  • pour heart out to
  • pour out (one's) heart (to someone)
  • pour out one's heart
References in periodicals archive
Lucia entered the field of international financial services diversify our economy and to provide direct and indirect opportunities for our people." He added that despite international scrutiny that has led to several Caribbean jurisdictions being blacklisted or sanctioned, St Lucia's financial services sector has been coming through with flying colors.
OFFSHORE BANKING BEGINS
"I've never been a mainstream person, and I've worked hard not to be a mainstream performer," says actress Mo Fischer, who succeeds with flying colors on both counts with her lascivious pompadoured drag king character Mo B.
She's king of the road
If this is not the case then the Y2K problem is not over, even for those nursing home facilities that sailed past January 1 with flying colors.
Beyond Y2K: It's Not Over Till It's Over
He came through with flying colors, winning over audiences with his sparkling clarity and gallant partnering.
Active in Seattle
"1996 was a good test for REITS, and they passed with flying colors."
REIT growth predicted to best '96 performance
Claudia Barretto graduated from high school with flying colors, bringing 'pride and joy' to mom Marjorie.
LOOK: Claudia Barretto graduates HS with honors, 'attending Ateneo' for college
The standards of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) would be met with flying colors. And they would receive a "Five-Star" rating in European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) tests.
Better car building through steel (But not the material you're familiar with). (On Materials)