Etymology:
- Nautical origin. The word 'colors' refers to the flag or ensign which every ship is obliged to fly at sea. It was once a common deception of pirates to 'sail under false colours' and fly a friendly flag in order to get within close range of potential targets without exciting suspicion. Only when the pirate ship reached close quarters would it unfurl its 'true colours'.
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Submitted on September 01, 2009
Translation
Find a translation for the show one's true colors phrase in other languages:
zeige sein wahres Gesicht
mostrar los verdaderos colores de uno
montrer ses vraies couleurs
mostrare i propri veri colori
показать свое истинное лицо
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"show one's true colors." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/show-ones-true-colors_6797>.
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