# sail under false colors

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/sail-under-false-colors
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To deceive or intentionally mystify.

## Examples

- He is sailing under false colors by pretending to be an expert.
- The company was sailing under false colors when they claimed their product was environmentally friendly.
- The politician sailed under false colors throughout the campaign, hiding his true intentions behind a mask of populist rhetoric.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.