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show your color

One definition of to "show your color" or the act of "showing your color" means to act inappropriately, (to be loud, vulgar, impetuous, out of control, undignified). It is used both humorously and seriously; when used seriously it is sometimes used to chastise or warn people that they may be letting their guard down too much or acting too comfortably. The phrase can have racial connotations, as it is used often by "people of color" to state that a person of their race is acting inappropriately, especially in front of whites or people outside of their own particular race or, thus playing into stereotypes. The phrase is used with similar connotations among one's own race at a time when "lax" or stereotypical behavior is inappropriate. At some point historically it was used by whites to mean "people of color" were acting in ways they stereotyped as indicative of their true nature of other ethnic groups, and thus was a racially derogatory phrase. Because of that the phrase can possibly be misunderstood in certain contexts.

Originally the phrase had no racial connotations; it was a variation on "showing one's color(s)" or "showing one's true color(s)", which could mean betraying ones unvarnished feelings or loyalties or affinities, or just acting impetuously, or spiritedly. Language guides indicate that the phrase is still very often used in this way as well.
"Amina, you keeping yelling to your friends and cackling; this an elegant establishment not a basement party, and you're showing your color! This is not the place to show your color, you know that."
by Language Maven January 28, 2020
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a lack of color

Tom: I just listened to a lack of color.

Janine: That's the greatest song in the world!
by sk0ooba October 9, 2006
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Related Words

colorado hotpocket

When the river runs red play in the mud. When a woman has a period and you seem to want to play in it like a child with mud it is called a colorado hot pocket.
Jimmy will you play in my colorado hotpocket.
by BIGBONE22 November 21, 2009
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Boulder, Colorado

The hometown of 3OH!3, arguably the best band that there ever has been or will be. Nathaniel Motte and Sean Foreman.
You's a punkbitch if you don't know bout Boulder, Colorado. Your girl's a freak, cause that's what I told her.

Sean: I love you Lizzy I don't care if you're not from Boulder, Colorado.
Nat: Same, Lucy.
by 3oh3 June 9, 2009
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Cohort

An acoustic (autistic) child continuously sings songs to relieve their tick.
Oh no, there's a cohort over there.
by cartier5 August 10, 2017
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Colorado

A hyped up state in the American West known for having a very dry and arid type climate and legal weed. It’s very transient, last year 193k people left and only 30k came in. That’s the biggest exodus in over 10 years.

It’s a beautiful state, even though the mountains are hard to get to with traffic and sometimes dangerous weather conditions combined with horrible drivers (especially in metro Denver).

In Denver, the so-called “Natives” are passive aggressive white trash. The women think they can walk on water as it’s known as “Menver”. It’s rated the worst dating scene in the county as of 2017. It’s got great neighborhoods, combined with a surprisingly vibrant nightlife. Crime is on the uprise and the homeless population is ridiculous. People are way to slow and leads to pathetic service at restaurants. Attitude sickness is real and a total bitch.

Colorado is a great place but not to live in full-time.
Guy: “I moved here for work from Los Angeles.”

Girl: “well I’m from Iowa and let me tell you how much I love Colorado and hate L.A.”

Guy: “I’m not about to start taking advice from some goddamn hick.”
by cryingshame June 9, 2018
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natural color movement

where women are starting to wear only there natural hair color because when men have sex with a woman they expect the hair color on there head to be the same color as the hair on there pussy and when it's not they feel cheated.
by Deep blue 2012 October 10, 2009
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