all that glitters
Mere outward brightness
All that glitters is a truncated proverb warning that appearances deceive—the full form being "all that glitters is not gold." Something attractive or promising on the surface may prove worthless underneath: The job offer seemed perfect, but all that glitters...
The phrase often trails off, letting the listener complete the thought.
- goldElement seventy-nine
- Merchant of VeniceShakespearean comedy about debt
- shineEmit or reflect light
- sparkleEmit flashing light
- treasureValued wealth or keepsake
fool's gold · deceptive · illusion · surface · glimmer · precious · jewels · costume jewelry · shimmer · appearance · false · gleam · pyrite · lure · temptation · shiny · shiny object · misleading
- proverbsproverbs, sayings, maxims, adages, aphorisms
- common sayingsproverbs, idioms, cliches, maxims, adages
- greed warningsgold fever
- appearance idiomsall dolled up, dolled up, done up, dressed to kill, dressed to the nines
- cautioncareful, be careful, cautious, caution, watch out
- moral sayingsdo unto others, golden rule, do the right thing, honesty is the best policy, treat others fairly
all that glitterssolid gold
Entirely of precious yellow metal
what you see is what you get · meat and potatoes · the real thing · genuine article · true worth
all that glitterstrue to form
Behaving as anticipated
truth in advertising · tried and true · bona fide · kosher · on the level
all that glitterstrue blue
Completely and permanently loyal
bona fide · sterling · tried and true · legitimate · trustworthy
glitter, glitters, glittered, glittering, glitteringly, glittery