en English es español fr française it italiano de deutsche ja 日本語 pl polski cs česky sv svenska tr Türkçe nl Nederlands

Explaining "A picture is worth a thousand words"

Reviewed and edited by Lloyd Cooper 30/09/2024, 14:27
English.me team member

What does it mean?

A picture is worth a thousand words

The phrase means that a single image can convey complex ideas and emotions more effectively than a large amount of words can.

Tone

Informative

Origin

The phrase is believed to have originated from an article in the advertising trade journal "Printer's Ink" in the early 20th century, attributed to Fred R. Barnard. It was used to promote the use of images in advertisements to convey messages more powerfully.

Examples of usage

  • A single photograph from the event was published, and it truly was worth a thousand words.
  • When he couldn't describe the scene with words, he simply showed her a picture, acknowledging that a picture is worth a thousand words.
  • While describing the architecture was difficult, one look at the picture demonstrated why a picture is worth a thousand words.

Recommended posts in Phrases

A friend to everyone is a friend to no one

A friend to everyone is a friend to no one

The phrase suggests that someone who tries to be friends ... Learn more →

A drowning man will clutch at a straw

A drowning man will clutch at a straw

The phrase means that a person in desperate circumstances will ... Learn more →

Loose lips sink ships

Loose lips sink ships

The phrase "Loose lips sink ships" is a warning against ... Learn more →

Prevention is better than cure

Prevention is better than cure

The phrase "Prevention is better than cure" means that it ... Learn more →