Rainbow number of colour bands of a rainbow may therefore be different from the number of bands in a spectrum, especially if the droplets are particularly large or small. Therefore, the number of colours of a rainbow is variable. If, however, the word "rainbow" is used inaccurately to mean "spectrum", it is the number of main colours in the spectrum. The question of whether everyone sees seven colours in a rainbow is related to the idea of linguistic relativity. Suggestions have been made that there is universality in the way that a rainbow is perceived. However, more recent research suggests that
With flying colours the nautical allusion, and are phrases to express persistence or stubbornness. ""Sailing under false colours"", staying consistent with its nautical origin, is another way to express deception, or to mislead or mystify. With flying colours "With flying colours" is a popular idiom of the English language. The phrase's origins relate to ship flags. Ships serve scientific and cultural needs, as well as the transportation of goods, and resolving political and national conflict. In the past, without the use of modern communication devices, a ship's appearance upon the immediate return to the port could communicate how the crew fared at sea.