true colours
true colours · true colourses
The real character, belief or intent of a person or group who present a dishonest…The real character, belief or intent of a person or group who present a dishonest picture of their nature to the world.
Meaning
1 senses(UK, plural, plural only)The real character, belief or intent of a person or group who present a dishonest picture of their nature to the world.
The organisation was officially concerned with economic development, but after the memo was leaked people began to see them in their true colours.
Origin
See show one's true colors.See show one's true colors.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source