false colours
Britishplural noun
-
a flag to which one is not entitled, flown esp in order to deceive
the ship was sailing under false colours
-
an assumed or misleading name or guise
to trade under false colours
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The new photographs include images in false colours that clearly show the shape of Carn Glas.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2023
Take all you gets, and clap ’em under hatches, and, whatever you do, don’t be deceived by false colours, nor hail ships as seems enemies.”
From Midnight Webs by Fenn, George Manville
Now’s your chance to get back the skipper’s favour by goin’ aft and tellin’ him as his old steward, George Moore, is aboard here, sailin’ under false colours.’
From The Cruise of the "Esmeralda" by Overend, William Heysham
You are painting me in false colours to that man; and this is your return for a thousand kindnesses.
From The Memoirs of Count Carlo Gozzi Volume the Second by Gozzi, Count Carlo
Why then Pursue my tale under false colours?
From Tales of the Wonder Club, Volume III by M. Y. Halidom (pseud. Dryasdust)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
