**** ETNI on the web http://www.etni.org.il http://www.etni.org **** to all 9th grade teachers, who teach "flying colors": (maybe it should be in the next addition of the teachers' guide) " To "pass with flying colors," meaning "to succeed or win by a wide margin" does indeed come from nautical lingo, "colors" in this sense meaning the naval flags or pennants flown from a ship's masts. The phrase (originally, in the late 17th century, "to come off with flying colors") most likely referred to a battleship which had been victorious in an encounter with the enemy and emerged from the fray with its ensigns still flying, indicating that no severe damage was done to the vessel." The Word Detective is written by Evan Morris _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 ##### To send a message to the ETNI list email: etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ##### ##### Send queries and questions to: ask@xxxxxxxx #####