Students who pass an exam easily are said to do so “with flying colors.” It’s sometimes joked that the test was a fireworks exam.
“Just passed the fireworks inspection with flying colors” was posted on Twitter on June 26, 2009. “Fireworks was in my head the whole time I was doing my math midterm! Maybe I’ll pass with flying colors” was posted on Twitter on December 14, 2010.
“I was afraid I might fail my fireworks exam, but I passed with flying colors” was posted on Reddit—Jokes on September 15, 2017.
“I passed my paintball exam with flying colors” is a similar “flying colors” joke.
Wikipedia: With flying colours
“With flying colours” is a popular idiom of the English language. The phrase’s origins relate to ship flags.
Twitter
Matt Markarian
@mattmarkarian
Just passed the fireworks inspection with flying colors, Shepherd and Chestnut Booth is legal and ready to open on Turesday!
4:03 PM - 26 Jun 2009
Twitter
lorely rodriguez
@lelyj
Fireworks was in my head the whole time I was doing my math midterm! Maybe I’ll pass with flying colors ; )
9:54 AM - 14 Dec 2010
Twitter
Youthful Smartass
@YSmartass
I passed my fireworks test with flying colors. #thepunniest
6:58 PM - 15 Nov 2011
Twitter
Jonathan James
@imjonathanjames
Passed my display fireworks class… With flying colors! #fb
2:26 PM - 8 May 2012
Twitter
Berto
@PBerto_
Math is just not my thing. If there was a class on how to sell fireworks I would pass with flying colors
9:20 AM - 14 Nov 2012
Twitter
Corn Peters
@OneWhoHappens
If I were to test the fireworks outside they’d
pass with flying colors
8:58 AM - 31 Dec 2013
Twitter
Just me and my JD
@Lawbooksnlattes
I passed the MPRE with flying colors. All the colors, and a fireworks show.
7:52 AM - 13 Apr 2017
Reddit—Jokes
I was afraid I might fail my fireworks exam
submitted September 15, 2017 by EpicalaxyMaster
But I passed with flying colors
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
Recent entries:
•“Laughter is the best medicine…except for treating diarrhea” (4/15)
•“Laughter is the best medicine. Unless you have diarrhea” (4/15)
•“If you know someone who is effortlessly happy in the morning, that is a demon. You’re friends with a demon” (4/15)
•“You know you’re a bad driver when Siri says: ‘In 400 feet, stop and let me out’” (4/15)
•“You know your driving is really terrible when your GPS says ‘After 300 feet, stop and let me out!’’ (4/15)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
This site is edited by Barry Popik. These are the Cookies and Privacy Policies.