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
LettyLET-eeEnglish
Augustina-Ancient Roman
AtarahAT-ə-rə (English)Biblical, Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
RenÉErə-NE (French)French, Dutch
Pandorapan-DAWR-ə (English)Greek Mythology
Cam (2)KAMEnglish