Explaining "Do not judge a book by its cover"

Reviewed and edited by

Anwar Kareem 29/09/2024, 19:33

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase means that you should not form an opinion about something or someone based solely on their appearance or initial impression.

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Origin

The phrase is a metaphorical idiom that implies the outside appearance does not always reflect the true nature of something. Its origin dates back to at least the mid-19th century.

Examples of usage

Even though the job applicant's resume wasn't very impressive, I decided to interview her anyway—after all, you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
The house might look small from the outside, but it's surprisingly spacious inside. Don't judge a book by its cover!