“Do not judge a book by its cover”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
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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Where it comes from
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
- 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!
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