It's fall in New England. It's the time of the year in the leaves on the trees turn beautiful shade of red, orange and yellow. I thought this was a good time and place to share the next a few expressions with you.
The first is to pass with flying colors. This means to do very well on a test. So, if you have a friend who scores high on a test or an exam, you can congratulate him or her and say “Good job, I heard you passed with the flying colors”.
Sometimes you might hear variation to come through with flying colors. “Pass with flying colors” or “come through with flying colors”. It means the same thing.
Now, you may wonder where this expression comes from. It's connected to the sailing. Picture of military ship sails home to its port and it raises its flags to show it's victorious in battle.
Next expression is also connected to the sailing. Now, flags what identify ship. American ship sails under the flag of United States. And British ship sails under the flag of the Grain Britain.
And pirate ship sails under the black flag with the skull and cross bones. In fact, the pirate ship from a distance might appear peaceful and friendly, but when it comes closer and raises its pirate flag, you know it to be dangerous.
The expression to show one's true colors means to reveal what you really like to show true character. So, if you show your true colors, you do something or say something to raise the initial impression. And now, you show what you really like as a person. That could be a good thing or bad thing.
The final expression is also connected to the colors. On specific one: red.
We say “to be in red” means “to be in debt”. “Out of the debt” is “out of the red”. “To be in the red” and “out of the red”.
This expression comes from the days of bookkeeping done by hand. Red ink or red pen with its use to show negative amount. So, if business is going bad and company is losing money they used red ink to show the money that was being lost “to be in the red”.
OK. Let's review the expressions.
(v.) to do very well on a test.
Answer: pass with flying colors.
(v.) to show what one is really like as a person.
Answer: show one's true colors.
(v.) to be in debt; owe more money than what you have.
(v.) to be out of debt; no longer owe money.
Complete each statement with one of the new expressions. Each expression will be used only once.
Read the statement to yourself and I'll tell you the answer.
[Use verb in the simple past.]
1. We used to think that our neighbor across the street was cold and uncaring. But when our house burned down, he ______________ his _________ _____ by inviting us to stay in his home.
2. Business is better this month, but we're not ________________________
yet. The company will need more time to pay back all that it owes.
3. Paulo's knowledge of English is very good, and his math skills are excellent. It's not surprising that he _______________ the GMAT _________________.
Answer: passed, with flying colors.
4. Kathy and Bob had to pay high medical bills this month. Even with their two paychecks they are _________________________________________.