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
LakeLAYKEnglish (Rare)
Eligiusze-LEEG-yuwshPolish
Jeanettezha-NET (French), jə-NET (English), shah-NET (Swedish)French, English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch
Chuck[tʃʌk]
Zhivko-Bulgarian, Macedonian
DariyaDAH-ree-yahUkrainian