all that glitters is not gold
- all that glitters is not gold
- Meaning
A showy article may not necessarily be valuable.
Origin
The 12th century French thelogian Alain de Lille wrote 'Do not hold everything gold that shines like gold'.
Shakespeare and others have expressed the same notion. Shakespeare version is sometimes transcribed as 'all the glisters is not gold'.
From Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.
MOROCCO:
O hell! what have we here?
A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
There is a written scroll! I'll read the writing.
All that glitters is not gold;
Often have you heard that told:
Many a man his life hath sold
But my outside to behold:
Gilded tombs do worms enfold.
Had you been as wise as bold,
Young in limbs, in judgment old,
Your answer had not been inscroll'd:
Fare you well; your suit is cold.
Cold, indeed; and labour lost:
Then, farewell, heat, and welcome, frost!
Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart
To take a tedious leave: thus losers part.
ref:
Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins, 1997 edition, Facts on File Inc.
Meaning and origin of phrases.
2013.
Look at other dictionaries:
All that glitters is not gold — is a well known saying.The expression, in various forms, dates from at least as far as the 12th century. [ [http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/28450.html The Phrase Finder] ; but see [http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin board/18/messages/56.html… … Wikipedia
all that glitters is not gold — 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.) … The small dictionary of idiomes
all that glitters is not gold — ► all that glitters is not gold proverb the attractive external appearance of something is not a reliable indication of its true nature. Main Entry: ↑glitter … English terms dictionary
all that glitters is not gold — ‘Glisters’, despite its Shakespearean authority, is now less often found than ‘glitters’. The variant form illustrated in quots. 1773 and 1987 is also common. L. non omne quod nitet aurum est, not all that shines is gold. c 1220 Hali Meidenhad… … Proverbs new dictionary
All that glitters is not gold. — British, American & Australian, British, literary something that you say to warn someone that sometimes people or things that appear attractive have no real value. This film has an all star cast, but all that glisters is not gold. It fails… … New idioms dictionary
all that glitters is not gold — 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.) (Dorking School Dictionary) … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
all that glitters is not gold — proverb the attractive external appearance of something is not a reliable indication of its true nature * * * ˌall that ˌglitters/ˌglistens is not ˈgold idiom (saying) not everything that seems good, attractive, etc. is actually good, etc.… … Useful english dictionary
all that glitters is not gold — something that looks valuable is sometimes truly worthless … English contemporary dictionary
all that glistens is not gold — ˌall that ˌglitters/ˌglistens is not ˈgold idiom (saying) not everything that seems good, attractive, etc. is actually good, etc. Main entry: ↑goldidiom … Useful english dictionary
All That Glitters (Adventures of Superman) — All That Glitters was the 104th and final episode of the hit 1950s action adventure juveniles series Adventures of Superman, based on the popular DC Comics flagship hero Superman. Directed by series star George Reeves, it aired on ABC Network on… … Wikipedia
