English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Not all it’s cracked up to be
Meaning
The idiom "not all it's cracked up to be" means that something is not as good or pleasurable as it appears to be at first glance. It suggests that there are hidden flaws or drawbacks that make the thing less desirable than expected.
Usage
- I was really excited to try out this new restaurant, but after my experience, I must say that it's not all it's cracked up to be.
- The hype around this movie made me think it was going to be amazing, but in reality, it's not all it's cracked up to be.
- My friend told me how great his new car is, but after driving it for a few weeks, I can tell you that it's not all it's cracked up to be.
- The beach was crowded and noisy, making it hard to relax and enjoy the sun. It's not all it's cracked up to be.
- My colleague got promoted to a higher position, but after the first few days, I realized that it's not all it's cracked up to be.
Roots and History
The idiom "not all it's cracked up to be" dates back to the early 20th century. It was first used in a song called "The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side of the Fence" by Louis Armstrong in 1925. The song lyrics describe how people are always comparing themselves to others and believing that they have it better, but in reality, everyone has their own problems. Over time, the idiom has become a common expression used in everyday language to express disappointment or dissatisfaction with something that was initially appealing.
Synonyms in English
- It's not all it's cracked up to be - It's not as good as it seems.
- It's not all it's made out to be - It's not as impressive as people say.
- It's not everything it's made out to be - It's not as perfect as it appears.
- It's not all roses and sunshine - It's not all positive.
- It's not as great as they make it sound - It's not as good as expected.
Synonyms in other languages
- En español: No es todo lo que se dice - It's not everything that people say.
- En français: Pas tout est doré qui glisse - Not everything that shines is gold.
- En Italiane: Tutto non è come sembra - Nothing is as it seems.
- In German: nicht alles ist so gut wie es sich scheint - Not everything is as good as it appears.
- In Japanese: 泡の上にも三年がある - There are three years even on top of the bubble (a metaphorical expression used to describe a situation that seems promising at first but eventually turns out to be a disappointment)