VOA词汇掌故2024--What Are Your ‘True Colors’?

What Are Your ‘True Colors’?

　　And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning¹ English.

　　On today's show, we talk about colors.

　　Sometimes we talk about our feelings with words describing colors. For example, if I am feeling down or a bit sad, I can say I am "blue." If I'm angry, I might say that I see "red." If I'm out of sorts or really unhappy, I can say I'm in a "black" mood. If I want something that someone else has, I can say I'm "green" with envy.

　　All these different feelings can be represented with colors. But what about your "true colors?" What does it mean to show your true colors?

　　If we show our "true colors," we are true to ourselves. We show what we are really like. We reveal² our true nature, character, or personality.

　　For example, I have a friend who loves the sun and sea. When she is at the beach, she shows her "true colors." She's very active -- swimming in the sea, walking along the beach, and enjoying other outdoor activities. When she is away from the beach, she doesn't seem herself. She is often inside and not very active.

　　However, showing one's true colors does not always mean something good. Some people may present themselves in a way other than how they really are. They might seem to have positive characteristics. They act kind, pleasant, generous, or helpful. But in fact, they are really the opposite. They are not showing their "true colors." They keep their "true nature" hidden.

　　Let's listen to this example:

　　A: You know, I thought Mack was easygoing. But then I worked with him on a big project.

　　B: I know exactly what you mean. He's easygoing and fun to work with when he gets his way. But if you question any of his ideas, he shows his true colors.

　　A: That is exactly what happened! I suggested an alternative to his idea, and he became really rude ... and mean.

　　Some word experts say the expression "true colors" dates back to the 1700s and comes from the world of sailing ships. Colored flags were, and still are, used to show what country a ship was registered³ to and to communicate with other ships at a distance. The ship's colors were its flags.

　　Pirates⁴' ships would sail under "false colors," meaning under a friendly flag. They would do this to get close to other ships without raising concern. Then, when the pirates were close enough and ready to attack, they would raise their "true colors."

　　Show your true stripes⁵

　　Another expression with a similar meaning is to show your stripes. Stripes can be your true nature and something you cannot hide or remove. However, this expression is less common.

　　Here is an example:

　　Marisa showed her true stripes when her back was against the wall. When she had no way out of the problems that she had created, she blamed everyone ... everyone but herself, that is.

　　And that's this week's Words and Their Stories. Until next time...

　　Words in This Story

　　envy –n. the unhappy feeling of disliking someone because they have or are something that you are not

　　reveal –v. to show or uncover⁶ something

　　character –n. the deep qualities that make a person who they are and form their personality

　　generous –adj. being considered someone who gives freely⁷ without worry or hesitation⁸

　　alternative –n. a choice or choices other than the one being considered

　　rude –adj. behaving in a way that appear loud and unsociable

　　back was against the wall –idiom : in a bad position in which one is forced to do something in order to avoid failure

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 reveal   

vt.揭露，泄露；展现，显示

参考例句：

• The journalist did not want to reveal the identity of his informant.那个新闻工作者不想透露消息提供人的身份。
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes.它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。

3 registered   

adj.登记的，注册的

参考例句：

• Ships were registered abroad to circumvent employment and safety regulation. 船只在外国注册以逃避有关雇佣和安全的规定。
• In former times, only property owners could be registered as voters. 从前，只有有财产的人才能登记作选民。

4 pirates   

n.海盗( pirate的名词复数 )；剽窃者；侵犯版权者；非法播音的人（或组织）

参考例句：

• Children dressed (themselves) up as pirates. 孩子们假扮成海盗。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The pirates treated their captives with barbarity. 海盗们残暴地对待他们的俘虏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 stripes   

n.（与底色不同的）条纹( stripe的名词复数 )；（军装或警服上表示等级的）臂章；纹理

参考例句：

• The plant's stem is marked with thin green longitudinal stripes. 这种植物的茎上长有绿色细长条纹。
• a zebra's black and white stripes 斑马的黑白条纹

6 uncover   

vt.揭露，暴露；揭开…的盖子

参考例句：

• Please uncover the pot.请拿掉锅盖。
• In spring we uncover the swimming pool.春天我们移去游泳池的覆盖物。

7 freely   

adv.自由地，随便地，无拘无束地

参考例句：

• She was unable to keep back her tears,and wept freely.她抑制不住泪水，痛痛快快地哭了起来。
• A liquid flows freely and has no fixed shape.液体能自由流动，无固定形态。

8 hesitation   

n.犹豫，踌躇

参考例句：

• After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
• There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。