flush with success

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flush with success" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe someone who is feeling very pleased or proud after achieving something significant. Example: After winning the championship, the team was flush with success and celebrated their victory. Alternative expressions include "riding high" and "on cloud nine."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

After Su Doku, the next puzzle: why don't Westerners flush with success?

The Times

Juniper grew rapidly, expanded its offerings, and was flush with success.

Harvard Business Review

Flush with success, they continued to create small-scale works on an ad hoc basis, with modest success.

The Guardian

Southwest doesn't quite fly on auto-pilot, but as it prepares for its 40th birthday next year, it is flush with success.

The New York Times

It raises a serious possibility that Mr Cameron, now deservedly flush with success, could be the last prime minister of the United Kingdom.

The Economist

With their success in Buner, the Taliban felt flush with success and increasingly confident that they could repeat the template, residents and analysts said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Flushed with success at revamping the company, Mr. Khloponin decided to try his hand at government.

The New York Times

Flushed with success and confidence, the company was looking to expand.

The Guardian - Tech

Flushed with success and with seemingly costless capital, companies expanded and diversified recklessly.

The Economist

"Toilet occupation group is flushed with success," read Monday's front-page headline.

The New York Times

But Tigranes had never yet in many combats been beaten, and was flushed with success when he engaged with Lucullus.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "flush with success" to describe not just the feeling of winning, but the subsequent increase in confidence or resources that leads to a new action or decision.

Common error

In British English especially, be cautious when using the phrase in close proximity to words like 'toilet', 'plumber' or 'facilities' unless you intend to make a pun, as the double meaning of 'flush' can distract the reader from your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

As noted by Ludwig, the phrase "flush with success" functions as an adjectival phrase used to modify a subject (often a person, a team or an organization) to indicate they are currently experiencing a peak of confidence or a surplus of resources. It often acts as a predicative adjective following a linking verb like 'be' or 'feel'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "flush with success" is a robust and widely accepted idiom in the English language. Ludwig AI analysis shows it is particularly prevalent in high-authority media sources where it describes the psychological or financial 'high' following an achievement. While often interchangeable with "flushed with success", the version with 'flush' emphasizes a state of fullness or abundance. Writers should feel confident using it in professional settings, though they should be mindful of context to avoid unintentional wordplay in topics related to sanitation. Overall, it serves as an excellent tool for conveying the momentum and confidence that success inevitably brings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flushed with triumph

Substitutes success with a more emphatic noun representing a grander achievement.

riding high

Uses a more metaphorical maritime or equestrian imagery to denote continued momentum.

buoyed by victory

Focuses on the uplifting emotional effect that winning has on morale.

elated by achievement

Replaces the idiomatic flush with a more direct emotional descriptor.

intoxicated with victory

Suggests a more extreme, perhaps reckless, state of excitement.

triumphant

A single-word adjective that covers the same semantic ground but with less emphasis on the resulting state of being.

exultant after success

Highlights the outward expression of joy after a win.

full of confidence

A more literal interpretation of the mental state following success.

on the crest of a wave

Emphasizes being at the peak of a successful period.

swelling with pride

Shifts the focus from the success itself to the internal feeling of pride.

FAQs

What is the difference between "flush with success" and flushed with success?

While both are correct, "flushed with success" often implies a physical reaction or a momentary emotional state, whereas "flush with success" suggests a more general state of being or having an abundance of resources after a win.

Can I use "riding high" instead of "flush with success"?

Yes, you can use "riding high" as a more informal and dynamic alternative that emphasizes the feeling of momentum.

Is "flush with success" appropriate for professional emails?

Absolutely. It is frequently seen in "business reports" and "news analysis" to describe companies or leaders after a profitable period.

What is a more literal way to say "flush with success"?

You could say someone is "empowered by their achievements" or "highly confident following their win".