Spanishvérsele el plumero
Meaning: Someone's true nature or hidden faults become glaringly visible.
Literally: To see the feather for him
Example: “Prometió neutralidad, pero en la primera pregunta se le vio el plumero.” — He promised to be neutral, but with the first question he showed his true colors.
English equivalent: To show one's true colors
Equivalents in other languages
English: To show your true colors
Origin: The most widely told explanation goes back to the Milicia Nacional, the citizen militia created by the Cortes of Cádiz in 1812, whose members wore a plume (plumero) on the front of their shako. The plume became a sign of liberal politics, and of a politician whose leanings showed, it was said se le ve el plumero. The story is widely repeated but not documented; another suggestion points to Aesop's crow dressed in borrowed feathers. Today it means that someone's real intentions are showing.
More Spanish idioms
- salga el sol por donde quiera It does not matter what happens or what difficulties arise; one will accept whatever come…
- darse de cabezadas To struggle uselessly against an impossible problem or obstacle.
- poner la proa To set one's aim or course deliberately toward something; to target or pursue.
- ley del hielo A state of deliberate coldness or refusal to speak to someone as a form of punishment or…
- ir que chuta (Spain) To be more than enough, or to be going well; often ironic, as in y vas que chutas…
- pasarlo teta To have an excellent, carefree time.
Explore another collection: False Friends
Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
- Constipado Actually means 'having a head cold'. Estoy constipado = I have a cold.
- Éxito Actually means 'success'. An exit is una salida.
- Actual Actually means 'current' or 'present'. For actual (real), say real or verdadero.
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