English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
All that glitters is not gold
Meaning
"All that glitters is not gold" is an idiomatic expression that means something may appear attractive or valuable on the surface, but it may not be worth the effort or money to pursue it further. The phrase suggests that one should look beyond superficial appearances and examine the true value of something before making a decision.
Usage
- I was initially drawn to the flashy job title, but after researching the company, I realized that all that glitters is not gold.
- She bought a new car because it looked sleek and stylish, but soon discovered that the maintenance costs were through the roof.
- He thought he had found the love of his life on a dating app, but after meeting in person, he realized that all that glitters is not gold.
- I was excited to try the new restaurant, but after my first visit, I realized that all that glitters is not gold - the food was mediocre and the service was poor.
- She spent a lot of money on designer clothes, thinking that all that glitters is not gold - but she soon realized that quality clothing doesn't come cheap.
Roots and History
The origin of this idiom can be traced back to medieval times when miners would search for gold in the streams and rivers. They would look for shiny rocks that glinted in the sunlight, hoping that they were made of gold. However, many of these rocks turned out to be just ordinary stones or even worthless debris. This led to the phrase "all that glitters is not gold" being used as a cautionary tale about the dangers of judging something by its appearance alone.
Synonyms in English
- All that shines is not silver
- All that sparkles is not diamonds
- All that glows is not fire
- All that gleams is not gold
- All that glitters is not jewels
Synonyms in other languages
- En français: « Tout ce qui brille n'est pas d'or »
- En español: « Todo lo que brillante no es oro »
- En italiano: « Tutto che luccica non è oro »
- En português: « Tudo o que brilha não é ouro »
- In Japanese: 「光っているものが金でない」