pass with flying colors

Meaning

To pass with flying colors means to complete a test, exam, or difficult task with an exceptionally high score or outstanding success. It is an encouraging, positive phrase often used to praise someone's academic achievements.

Examples

• She was so nervous about her driving test, but she passed with flying colors.

  She was so nervous about her driving test, but she passed with flying colors.

• If you study hard every day, I am sure you will pass with flying colors.

  If you study hard every day, I am sure you will pass with flying colors.

• He didn't just get a passing grade; he passed his university entrance exam with flying colors.

  He didn't just get a passing grade; he passed his university entrance exam with flying colors.

• Everyone expected her to struggle, but she passed the bar exam with flying colors.

  Everyone expected her to struggle, but she passed the bar exam with flying colors.

• Congratulations on your graduation! You passed all your final exams with flying colors.

  Congratulations on your graduation! You passed all your final exams with flying colors.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ She passed the test with flying paints.

  ✓ She passed the test with flying colors.

  This is a fixed idiom. You cannot substitute 'colors' with synonyms like 'paints', 'drawings', or 'tints'.

• ✗ He passed with fly colors.

  ✓ He passed with flying colors.

  The modifier must be in the present participle form ('flying'), not the base verb form ('fly').

Related Expressions

Practice

• After weeks of preparation, he managed to ___.

  💡 Succeed exceptionally well on his test.

  Show answer

  pass with flying colors

• If you want to ___, you need to study every day.

  💡 Get an excellent score on an exam.

  Show answer

  pass with flying colors