Definition of Flying colours

1. Noun. Complete success. "They passed inspection with flying colors"

Exact synonyms: Flying Colors
Generic synonyms: Success
Language type: Plural, Plural Form

Lexicographical Neighbors of Flying Colours

flying blister
flying boat
flying bomb
flying brick
flying bricks
flying bridge
flying carpet
flying cat
flying circus
flying circuses
flying coffin
flying coffins
flying colors
flying colours (current term)
flying column
flying dragon
flying drainpipe
flying field
flying fish
flying fox
flying foxes
flying frog
flying gecko
flying gurnard
flying gurnards
flying horse
flying jib
flying jib boom

Literary usage of Flying colours

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Local Records; Or, Historical Register of Remarkable Events, which Have by John Latimer (1857)
"The first vessel which entered the dock was the brig Thomas Rowell, and her entrance was effected with flying colours and numerous salutes of cannon, ..."

2. The Humourist's Own Book: A Cabinet of Original and Selected Anecdotes, Bon by Author of The young man's own book (1836)
"flying colours. Two gentlemen were at a coffee-house, when the discourse fell upon Sir Joshua Reynolds's painting; one of them said, ..."

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