| Idiom | Show Your True Colors |
|---|---|
| Example | We thought Carl was a great guy until he showed his true colors by kicking his dog. |
| Meaning | to reveal what you are really like |
| Origin | For centuries ships have flown colorful flags to identify themselves. Sometimes a ship could fool an enemy by flying a false flag that looked friendly. That was called sailing "under false colors." Then, if the deceitful ship "showed its true colors," it hoisted its real flags and showed the enemy who it really was. In the same way, people who show their true colors today are exposing their real traits, qualities, and character. |
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