What you see is what you get
Meaning: There's nothing hidden or disguised.
Origin: The comedian Flip Wilson made it a catchphrase in the early 1970s through his character Geraldine, who answered any criticism with "What you see is what you get!" Computer engineers borrowed it, as the acronym WYSIWYG, for screens that show a document exactly as it will print.
Equivalents in French, Spanish, and Japanese
- French: Ce que tu vois, c'est ce que tu obtiens (literally: What you see is what you get)
- Spanish: Lo que ves es lo que hay (literally: What you see is what there is)
- Japanese: 見たまま、そのまま (Mita mama, sono mama) (literally: As seen, as is)
More proverbs about Communication
- The customer is always right — In business, the customer's satisfaction takes priority.
- A gentle word opens an iron gate — Kindness and diplomacy can overcome even the most resistant obstacles.
- Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent — Saying nothing is often wiser than speaking without knowledge.
- The tongue has no bones, but it is strong enough to break a heart — Words, though intangible, can inflict deep and lasting wounds.
- A problem shared is a problem halved — Talking about difficulties with others makes them easier to bear and to solve.
- Walls have ears — Be careful what you say — you may be overheard in unexpected places.
From our idioms
- avere un diavolo per capello — Be extremely angry or agitated, ready to argue with anyone about anything.
- essere un osso duro — Be a difficult, stubborn person who is challenging to deal with or influence.
- piangere sul latte versato — Waste time regretting something that cannot be changed or undone.