# show colour

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/show-colour
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To get angry, to scowl.

## Examples

- He started to show colour when I asked about the broken vase.
- My neighbor shows colour whenever someone parks in front of his driveway.
- Do not show colour just because you lost the game.
- The manager began to show colour as the team explained why the project was delayed again.
- You might see the chef show colour if the servers keep sending back plates because the food is cold.
- The bus driver showed colour after waiting ten minutes for the passenger to find her lost ticket.
- The landlord showed colour when he noticed the new tenants had painted the living room walls bright purple without asking for his permission first.
- Though he usually maintained a calm exterior, he began to show colour when the witness contradicted his testimony.

## Origin

The idiom is possibly derived from the nautical practice of showing one's true colours, though it is used specifically to denote the emergence of ill temperament through an exhibition of anger. The origin remains a matter of some uncertainty, suggesting that the display of one's disposition is a variation on the older habit of revealing a ship’s national affiliation. (disputed)

---

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.