flying colours

British

plural noun

conspicuous success; triumph

he passed his test with flying colours

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After nine straight wins against lesser opposition, England passed the true test of their development with flying colours and four tries amid a delirious atmosphere at Allianz Stadium.

From BBC

Celtic passed the first half with flying colours.

From BBC

She was described as "popular, diligent and a person who passed with flying colours the test of life".

From BBC

Four of the top five sides in the Premier League table have come unstuck against Bournemouth, but Liverpool underlined their title credentials by passing this tricky test with flying colours.

From BBC

It was an exam that the college-aged student passed with flying colours.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023