sail under false colors

Cultural  

1. To behave deceptively; the “colors” of a ship are its identifying flags: “It turned out that the door-to-door sales rep was sailing under false colors and was actually a swindler.”

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sail under false colors Idioms  

1. see under false colors.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sail under false colors

But I will not sail under false colors in your eyes, lad.

From The Blood Ship by Norman Springer

I was anxious not to sail under false colors, and he expressed himself approvingly of my sentiment, assuring me that my personal views in politics could make no difference in my status on this occasion.

From Recollections of a Varied Life by George Cary Eggleston

Come, boys," Colonel Tritton said good-temperedly, "never be ashamed of your names; don't sail under false colors, lads.

From The Young Buglers by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty

"You see I'm not trying to sail under false colors."

From The Bachelors A Novel by William Dana Orcutt

We didn't mean to sail under false colors.

From Stories Worth Rereading by Various