English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
Colours in Idioms
He passed his exam ~in flying colour~ (nonstandard).
He passed his exam *with flying colours* (standard).
If you pass a test with flying colours, you have done very well in the test.
He just showed up one day ~out of the blues~ (nonstandard).
He just showed up one day *out of the blue* (standard).
If something happens out of the blue, it happens unexpectedly.
He beat him ~blue back~ in less than 10 minutes (nonstandard).
He beat him *black and blue* in less than 10 minutes (standard).
If you say that someone is black and blue, you mean that they are badly bruised.
GAB
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