sail under false colours

It was like those pirates who sailed under false colours.

You sail under false colours from beginning to end,' he said. '

If you sail under false colours this directive will sink you.

We are sailing under false colours,' whispered Stephen. '

And sometimes their descendants - who have kept the assumed names as their own - don't even know that they're sailing under false colours.

If the Tories are so proud of their party, why do so many of them feel the need to sail under false colours?

We must not sail under false colours, Mr. Mailey," said Enid. "

Sailing under false colours", staying consistent with its nautical origin, is another way to express deception, or to mislead or mystify."

But now, as to our other prisoner: we must overhaul him and examine his papers, for so many craft are sailing under false colours that we must needs be careful.

Similarly, the phrase "sailing under false colours" was a reference to a tactic used by pirates or maritime robbers roaming the seas to attack vessels with desired booty.

Still, he feels that the waiters know that he comes from Dearborn and they can see that in his cashmere tweed jacket he is sailing under false colours.

Likewise we now all know what showing true colours (or the opposite, sailing under false colours) means: when in battle, a ship made known her nationality by flying her country's flag.

As I do not sail under false colours," went on Mr. Mellis with a dry smile, "I may as well tell you at once that both I and my partner protested vehemently against the execution of such a will, for reasons that seemed good to us but which I need not set out.