“Beauty is only skin deep”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase Beauty is only skin deep means that a person’s physical appearance does not reflect their character or personal qualities. True beauty is more than what is on the surface.
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Where it comes from
The phrase first appeared in its current form in a work by Sir Thomas Overbury, published in 1613, which included the line, “All the carnall beawtie of my wife, Is but skin-deepe.”
Examples
- She may be stunning to look at, but remember, beauty is only skin deep.
- Although he is handsome, beauty is only skin deep; it’s his kindness that truly sets him apart.
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