feel need verification right away- when I'm a little delusional from sleep deprivation and can't go 2 sleep!
2007-08-14 20:45:20 · 5 answers · asked by ... 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
18th, 19th century navies would go into battle flying their colors (national flags). The loser of the battle would "strike colors" or lower flags. If you get through with flying colors you have won a battle.
2007-08-15 00:16:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm pretty sure that the "colors" in this case refer to a flag. In the Middle Ages, different families had different "colors," in sets of two (like black and silver, or red and blue), which knights would carry into battle. If you win a battle, that means your flag hasn't fallen, and thus your "colors" are still flying.
2007-08-14 21:23:31 · answer #2 · answered by Vaughn 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pass with flying colours
Meaning: To exceed expectations, to do better than expected.
Example: The B.C. motor vehicle test is tough, but my car passed with flying colours.
Origin: Colour(s) has numerous meanings. An early use of the word is flag, pennant, or badge.
"Passed with flying colours" comes from sailing ships that, when passing other ships at sea, would fly their colours (flags) if they wanted to be identified.
Alternative: A metaphor drawn from parades, which do not merely pass, but rather do so with flags raised, "with flying colours."
Related phrase: "Show your true colours".-
2007-08-15 04:19:44 · answer #3 · answered by Jayaraman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, it was derived from the imagery of flags. The term "colours" can be used archaically to mean "flags or seals or signs".
2007-08-14 22:43:53 · answer #4 · answered by markee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you know u have honestly no clue. good question
2007-08-14 21:25:42 · answer #5 · answered by warsaw 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋