show true colors



show somebody's/something's true colors

also reveal somebody's/something's true colors
to let others see what someone or something is really like Hal's wife showed her true colors by getting a second job when he lost his. Workers felt the company revealed its true colors during the crisis.
See also: color, show, true

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
MÁRiaMAH-ree-aw (Hungarian)Hungarian, Slovak
Salvadorsahl-bah-DHORSpanish
Carter['ka:tə]
Natali-Russian, Ukrainian
ViŠNjaVEESH-nyahCroatian, Serbian
TuÂN-Vietnamese