diff --git a/bash-helper.sh b/bash-helper.sh
index 97c6c83..d482f76 100755
--- a/bash-helper.sh
+++ b/bash-helper.sh
@@ -430,7 +430,8 @@ mode_explain() {
 
     # Display colorized syntax
     if [ -n "$raw_syntax" ]; then
-      colorize_syntax "$raw_syntax" | sed 's/^/  /'
+      local colored=$(colorize_syntax "$raw_syntax")
+      printf "  %b\n" "$colored"
     fi
     echo ""
 
@@ -593,36 +594,38 @@ get_practical_example() {
 }
 
 # Colorize syntax elements by type for instant recognition
+# Returns raw string with ANSI codes (caller should use echo -e or printf %b)
 colorize_syntax() {
   local syntax="$1"
   local colored_syntax="$syntax"
 
   # Color scheme for syntax elements:
-  # - Command name (first word): Bright cyan
+  # - Command name (first word): Bright cyan + bold
   # - [OPTIONS], [OPTION], etc.: Yellow
   # - UPPERCASE args (FILE, STRING, SET1, etc.): Magenta
   # - Lowercase/optional args: Green
   # - ... (ellipsis): Dim white
 
-  # Extract command name (first word)
-  local cmd_word=$(echo "$syntax" | awk '{print $1}')
+  # Extract command name (first word) - escape special chars for sed
+  local cmd_word=$(echo "$syntax" | awk '{print $1}' | sed 's/[]\/$*.^[]/\\&/g')
 
-  # Start with command in bright cyan
-  colored_syntax=$(echo "$syntax" | sed "s/^$cmd_word/\\${CYAN}\\${BOLD}$cmd_word\\${NC}/")
+  # Start with command in bright cyan + bold
+  colored_syntax=$(echo "$syntax" | sed "s/^$cmd_word/\\\\033[0;36m\\\\033[1m$cmd_word\\\\033[0m/")
 
   # Color [OPTIONS], [OPTION], [EXPRESSION], etc. in yellow
-  colored_syntax=$(echo "$colored_syntax" | sed -E "s/\[([A-Z][A-Z_-]*)\]/[\\${YELLOW}\1\\${NC}]/g")
+  colored_syntax=$(echo "$colored_syntax" | sed -E "s/\[([A-Z][A-Z_-]*)\]/[\\\\033[0;33m\1\\\\033[0m]/g")
 
   # Color UPPERCASE arguments in magenta (FILE, STRING, PATH, SET1, etc.)
-  colored_syntax=$(echo "$colored_syntax" | sed -E "s/([[:space:]])([A-Z][A-Z0-9_-]*[A-Z])([[:space:][:punct:]$])/\1\\${MAGENTA}\2\\${NC}\3/g")
+  colored_syntax=$(echo "$colored_syntax" | sed -E "s/([[:space:]])([A-Z][A-Z0-9_-]*[A-Z])([[:space:][:punct:]$])/\1\\\\033[0;35m\2\\\\033[0m\3/g")
 
   # Color lowercase optional arguments in green
-  colored_syntax=$(echo "$colored_syntax" | sed -E "s/\[([a-z][a-z-]*)\]/[\\${GREEN}\1\\${NC}]/g")
+  colored_syntax=$(echo "$colored_syntax" | sed -E "s/\[([a-z][a-z-]*)\]/[\\\\033[0;32m\1\\\\033[0m]/g")
 
   # Color ellipsis (...) in dim white
-  colored_syntax=$(echo "$colored_syntax" | sed "s/\.\.\./\\${DIM}...\\${NC}/g")
+  colored_syntax=$(echo "$colored_syntax" | sed "s/\.\.\./\\\\033[2m...\\\\033[0m/g")
 
-  echo -e "$colored_syntax"
+  # Return raw string (no echo -e, let caller handle interpretation)
+  printf "%s" "$colored_syntax"
 }
 
 # Extract all flags from man page or help
@@ -663,15 +666,17 @@ browse_flags_fuzzy() {
   local flag_count=$(echo "$all_flags" | wc -l)
 
   # Colorize the syntax for the header
+  # colorize_syntax now returns raw \033 codes that printf %b will interpret
   local colored_syntax=$(colorize_syntax "$cmd_syntax")
 
-  # Create multi-line header with command info
-  local header="╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
-║ Command: ${CYAN}${BOLD}$cmd_name${NC}
-║ Syntax:  $colored_syntax
-║ Desc:    ${GREEN}$cmd_desc${NC}
-╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
-🔍 Fuzzy search $flag_count flags | Multi-select: Ctrl-A/D | Esc: Back to menu"
+  # Create multi-line header with command info using printf %b for proper escape code interpretation
+  # Use actual ANSI codes for command and description, use %b for colored syntax
+  local header
+  printf -v header "╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗\n║ Command: \033[0;36m\033[1m%s\033[0m\n║ Syntax:  %b\n║ Desc:    \033[0;32m%s\033[0m\n╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝\n🔍 Fuzzy search %d flags | Multi-select: Ctrl-A/D | Esc: Back to menu" \
+    "$cmd_name" \
+    "$colored_syntax" \
+    "$cmd_desc" \
+    "$flag_count"
 
   # Show in fzf with integrated command info
   echo "$all_flags" | fzf \
@@ -993,29 +998,34 @@ if [ "$INTERACTIVE" = true ]; then
         SYNTAX_PART="$CMD_NAME [options]"
       fi
 
-      # Truncate if too long
+      # Truncate description if too long
       if [ ${#DESC_PART} -gt $DESC_WIDTH ]; then
         DESC_PART="${DESC_PART:0:$((DESC_WIDTH-3))}..."
       fi
+
+      # Truncate syntax if too long (before colorizing)
       if [ ${#SYNTAX_PART} -gt $SYNTAX_WIDTH ]; then
         SYNTAX_PART="${SYNTAX_PART:0:$((SYNTAX_WIDTH-3))}..."
       fi
 
+      # Colorize the syntax (command in cyan, [OPTIONS] in yellow, FILE in magenta, etc.)
+      # colorize_syntax returns raw string with \033 codes, need to preserve them
+      COLORIZED_SYNTAX=$(colorize_syntax "$SYNTAX_PART")
+
       # Calculate exact padding needed for right-alignment
-      # Account for visual width only (not ANSI codes)
+      # Use UNCOLORIZED lengths for spacing calculation
       CMD_LEN=${#CMD_NAME}
       DESC_LEN=${#DESC_PART}
-      SYNTAX_LEN=${#SYNTAX_PART}
+      SYNTAX_LEN=${#SYNTAX_PART}  # Use original length, not colorized
 
-      # Calculate spaces needed: terminal width - all visible characters - separator chars
-      # Visible: cmd + ": " + desc + syntax = CMD_LEN + 2 + DESC_LEN + SYNTAX_LEN
+      # Calculate spaces needed for flush right-alignment
+      # Account for: cmd + ": " + desc + spaces + syntax
+      # Reduce safety padding from 8 to 2 for tighter right-alignment
       VISIBLE_WIDTH=$((CMD_LEN + 2 + DESC_LEN + SYNTAX_LEN))
-      NEEDED_SPACES=$((TERM_WIDTH - VISIBLE_WIDTH - 8))  # Extra padding for safety
+      NEEDED_SPACES=$((TERM_WIDTH - VISIBLE_WIDTH - 2))  # Minimal padding for flush right
 
-      # Minimum spacing
-      [ $NEEDED_SPACES -lt 3 ] && NEEDED_SPACES=3
-      # Maximum spacing to prevent excessive gaps
-      [ $NEEDED_SPACES -gt 20 ] && NEEDED_SPACES=20
+      # Ensure minimum spacing
+      [ $NEEDED_SPACES -lt 2 ] && NEEDED_SPACES=2
 
       # Create spacing string
       SPACES=$(printf '%*s' "$NEEDED_SPACES" '')
@@ -1023,8 +1033,8 @@ if [ "$INTERACTIVE" = true ]; then
       # Format with colors:
       # - Bright cyan for command name
       # - White for description
-      # - Dim cyan for syntax (right-aligned)
-      formatted_line="\033[0;36m${CMD_NAME}\033[0m: ${DESC_PART}${SPACES}\033[2;36m${SYNTAX_PART}\033[0m"
+      # - Colorized syntax (right-aligned with cyan cmd, yellow [OPTIONS], magenta FILE, etc.)
+      formatted_line="\033[0;36m${CMD_NAME}\033[0m: ${DESC_PART}${SPACES}${COLORIZED_SYNTAX}"
 
       FORMATTED_COMMANDS+=("$formatted_line")
     done
@@ -1033,7 +1043,7 @@ if [ "$INTERACTIVE" = true ]; then
     SELECTED=$(printf "%b\n" "${FORMATTED_COMMANDS[@]}" | fzf \
       --height 60% \
       --border \
-      --header "Select a command (Esc to exit) | cyan: command | description | dim: syntax" \
+      --header "Select a command (Esc to exit) | Colorized: cmd=[cyan] [OPTIONS]=[yellow] FILE=[magenta]" \
       --prompt "🔍 Search: " \
       --preview-window=hidden \
       --ansi)