true colors
Real underlying character
True colors are what someone is really like beneath appearances or pretenses.
The phrase almost always appears with verbs of revelation: He showed his true colors when the pressure mounted.
Though the metaphor suggests color could be good or bad, in practice the phrase usually implies exposure of negative traits—selfishness, dishonesty, cowardice—previously hidden behind a more appealing facade.
Revealing what's hidden
- exposureState of being unprotected
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- unveilingAct of first revealing
- discoveryAct of finding something
showing · emerging · surfacing · manifesting · coming out · laying bare · uncovering · revealing
Characteristic mental patterns
- natureInherent quality or disposition
- essenceFundamental nature of something
- temperamentInborn behavioral nature
- dispositionInherent character or arrangement
traits · individuality · spirit · psyche · morality · virtue · integrity · principles
Truly what it claims
- authenticVerified as original
- realnessState of being authentic
- unmaskedHad covering removed
- unpretentiousLacking false superiority
natural · pure · undisguised · unadulterated · unvarnished · unfeigned · bona fide · transparent
unmasking
Revealing what's hidden
- exposureState of being unprotected
- disclosureAct of revealing information
- unveilingAct of first revealing
discovery · showing · emerging · surfacing · manifesting · coming out · laying bare · uncovering · revealing · awakening
personality
Characteristic mental patterns
- natureInherent quality or disposition
- essenceFundamental nature of something
- temperamentInborn behavioral nature
disposition · traits · individuality · spirit · psyche · morality · virtue · integrity · principles · values
genuine
Truly what it claims
unpretentious · natural · pure · undisguised · unadulterated · unvarnished · unfeigned · bona fide · transparent · veritable
- Color Idiomsblack sheep, blue moon, green light, red flag, white lie
- authenticityauthentic, genuine, real, fake, counterfeit
- honestyhonesty, candor, sincerity, dishonesty, frankness
- valorbravery, courage, gallantry, heroism, fearlessness
- honesty valueshonesty, sincerity, candor, integrity, transparency
- sinceritysincerity, sincere, genuine, genuineness, honesty
true colorsfalse pretenses
Deceptive claims for gain
facade · false front · façade · mask · persona
true colorssecret self
One's concealed true nature
hidden depths · hidden agenda · buried truth · poker face · inscrutability
true colorspolished surface
Smooth, lustrous exterior
veneer · exterior · first impression · window dressing · public image
true, truly, truth, truths, truthful, truthfully, truthfulness, untrue, truism