true colours

noun

The real character, belief or intent of a person or group who present a dishonest picture of their nature to the world.

“The organisation was officially concerned with economic development, but after the memo was leaked people began to see them in their true colours.”

Similar
true stripes
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Meanings

nountrue colours pl (plural only)

alternative true colors

  1. UKpluralplural onlyThe real character, belief or intent of a person or group who present a dishonest picture of their nature to the world.

    The organisation was officially concerned with economic development, but after the memo was leaked people began to see them in their true colours.

    1 more example

    But I see your true colors / Shining through / I see your true colors / And that's why I love you / So don't be afraid to let them show

    1986, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly, “True Colors”, performed by Cyndi Lauper

    Synonyms: true stripes

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe real character, belief or intent of a person or group who present a dishonest picture of their nature to the world.

Similar
true stripes
Also see
true stripes

Origin

See show one's true colors.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

true colours. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/true%20colours

MLA

“true colours.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/true%20colours. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “true colours,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/true%20colours.

Source: true colours on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.