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

"He's not a fellow to sail under false colors, but he might still have some delicacy in telling about it—" "He has told me all," said Tom, dryly.

From Sir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume II. by Lever, Charles James

He was obliged to sail under false colors until he reached Boydtown in his native State, where Morris, his mother's coachman, was waiting for him.

From Rodney The Partisan by Castlemon, Harry

He hoped, too, and trembled while the thought flitted through his mind, that no one in the room would speak his name, for it was his turn to sail under false colors now.

From Rodney The Partisan by Castlemon, Harry

We didn't mean to sail under false colors.

From Stories Worth Rereading by Various

Humph! that's a temptation to sail under false colors that most of my kin would thank'ee for.

From Old Farm Fairies: A Summer Campaign In Brownieland Against King Cobweaver's Pixies by McCook, Henry Christopher