devil is not so black as he is painted

the devil is not so black as he is painted

One is not as evil, malicious, or malignant as one is described or believed to be. The biker gang plays up its tough demeanor and hellish reputation, but they're really just a bunch of regular guys. The devil is not as black as he is painted.

See also: black, devil, he, not, painted

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

devil is not so black as he is painted

Prov. No one is as bad as people say he is. (Implies that people are saying too many bad things about someone.) I can't believe that actress is as coldhearted as the gossip columns say she is. The devil is not so black as he is painted.

See also: black, devil, he, not, painted

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.