entpuppen
Translation
to emerge (from a chrysalis), to turn out to be, to reveal oneself as
Examples
Die Raupe hat sich als Schmetterling entpuppt.
The caterpillar emerged as a butterfly.
Der nette Nachbar entpuppte sich als Betrüger.
The nice neighbour turned out to be a fraudster.
Grammar Patterns
sich ((als+Noun)) to turn out to be (sth.) He turned out to be a liar.
Similar Words
sich herausstellen, sich erweisen
Etymology
From 'ent-' (de-, un-) + 'Puppe' (chrysalis, doll). Literally 'to de-chrysalis' or 'to un-doll', meaning to emerge or reveal one's true self.
Memory Tips
Imagine a puppet or doll ('Puppe') that is 'un-dolled' ('ent-') to show what it really is.