show one's true stripes

== English == === Pronunciation === === Verb === show one's true stripes (third-person singular simple present shows one's true stripes, present participle showing one's true stripes, simple past showed one's true stripes, past participle shown one's true stripes or (US also) showed one's true stripes) (idiomatic) To reveal one's real beliefs, sentiments, or character, especially through one's behavior. 2002, Jeffrey Eugenides, Middlesex, →ISBN (2011 reprint), p. 363 (Google preview): “Now they're showing their true stripes,” Iimmy Fioretos said. “The Turks wanted to invade all along. That malarkey about ‘protecting the Constitution’ was just a pretext.” ==== Synonyms ==== show one's true colors