don't judge a book by its cover
Meaning: Don't form an opinion based only on appearance.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The shabby little restaurant serves amazing food; don't judge a book by its cover.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: A 20th-century saying; an early form is found in a 1929 issue of the American Speech journal, and the 1946 murder mystery Murder in the Glass Room popularized it. Older versions warned against judging by clothes.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: L'habit ne fait pas le moine — literally: The habit does not make the monk
More idioms — Daily Life
- forewarned is forearmed — Knowing about something in advance lets you prepare.
- behind closed doors — In private or in secret.
- the judgment of Solomon — A wise decision that cleverly settles a difficult dispute.
- six of one, half a dozen of the other — Two options are essentially the same.
- to the letter — Exactly and precisely, following every detail.
- get the boot — To be dismissed from a job or thrown out.
More English idioms
- as old as the hills — Extremely old.
- a low blow — An unfair or cruel attack.
- it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye — Rough play may seem harmless but can end in injury.
- a dab hand — Someone very skilled at something.
- don't wash your dirty linen in public — Keep private problems and quarrels private.
- can't see the forest for the trees — Too focused on details to understand the whole situation.
From our proverbs
- He that goes softly goes surely. — Moving with deliberate care and caution leads to reliable progress without missteps or re…
- Soldiers in peace are like chimneys in summer. — Idle warriors without conflict become useless burdens, their skills and purpose rendered…
- Sorrow and bad weather come unsent for. — Misfortune arrives without invitation, so accepting its inevitability brings more peace t…