under false colors
1
9.1
- idiom
- US
:
bajo falsas apariencias
- He joined the organization under false colors, pretending to support their cause.
Examples
-
I have been sailing under false colors.
-
As if I were parading under false colors.
Fiction book (1993) -
I'm flying under false colours, Miss Haynes.
-
The spy operated under false colors to gather information unsuspected.
-
She presented herself under false colors, hiding her true intentions from everyone.
Synonyms
∞
2.3
To act as if something is true when it is not
172
6.1
To pretend to be someone you are not to trick people
40
7.2
Pretend to feel something, like surprise or interest, to trick other people
26
6.9
To pretend to be someone else to hide the truth
22
7.2
To hide the truth about yourself by pretending something else is true
18
6.9
To make something or someone look real when they are not
9
9.1
To hide true feelings or intentions by pretending to feel something else
7
8.2
To trick someone by hiding the truth
5
3.9
To put on clothes or a mask to hide who you are
2
8.9
To pretend to be someone you are not to impress others
1
6.4
To pretend to be or feel something to trick people
1
8.1
To trick someone who trusts you by hiding your real plans to get something for yourself
To pretend to be someone else to trick people
Antonyms
How Deceptive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The words 'false' (deceptive) and 'under' (in the state of) give a clear hint that someone is operating in a deceptive condition, so a learner can partly infer the idea of pretending or hiding intentions. However, 'colors' here means 'flags/appearance' in an idiomatic, historical sense that is not fully literal or universally known, so the full idiomatic meaning is only partially predictable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Under false colors comes from old sailors. One popular story says ships flew false colors, or fake flags, to look friendly while planning an attack, so the image of hiding behind a fake flag is why the phrase means 'pretending to be something one is not' today.