All that glitters is not gold meaning

What does the saying 'All that glitters is not gold' mean?

Idiom: All that glitters is not gold

Meaning:

This means that appearances can be deceptive and things that look or sound valuable can be worthless. ('All that glistens is not gold' is an alternative.)
Country: International English | Subject Area: Money | Usage Type: Both or All Words Used
All idioms have been editorially reviewed, and submitted idioms may have been edited for correctness and completeness.
« Previous: All talk and no trousers
Next: All the rage »

Similar Idioms

Idiom eBooks from UsingEnglish.com

Download our curated lists of idioms in PDF format - perfect to use offline for reference or for use in class!

If you have a question about idioms, ask us about it in our Idioms Discussion Forum.

If you know of an idiom that you would like to be listed here, please use our online form to suggest an idiom.

See also:


Trustpilot