Idioms

glister

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all that glisters is not gold

People or things that have an outward appeal are often not as beautiful or valuable as they seem. The phrase with this wording (as opposed to "all that glitters is not gold") originated in the Shakespeare play The Merchant of Venice. I don't know if that necklace from the flea market will have the resale value you're anticipating. All that glisters is not gold, you know. Lady Margaret, I know he's an appealing marriage candidate in terms of prestige, but have you ever noticed how harsh he is to his servants? Just know that all that glisters is not gold. I wouldn't be too jealous of the family that lives in that lavish estate on the hill—all that glisters is not gold, you know.
See also: all, glister, gold, not, that
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

ˌall that ˌglitters/ˌglistens/ˌglisters is not ˈgold

(saying) not everything that seems good, attractive, etc. is actually good, etc: Don’t imagine that because they are rich, they are happy. All that glitters is not gold.
The verbs in this idiom all mean ‘shine brightly’.
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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References in periodicals archive
Also available: Glister: The House Hunt, 978 1 4063 2049 7, Glister: The Faerie Host, 978 1 4063 2050 3 and Glister: The Family Tree, 978 1 4063 2051 0.
Det Sgt Glister, leading the search for Rosie's mother, said Rosie was in good health, and added: "She's settled down really well."
In what was described as a "disturbing set of events", Consett Magistrates' Court heard how 27-year-old Lisa Glister damaged a door lock by barging into a former neighbour's home at Fern Avenue in South Stanley, County Durham.
Pictured (from left), Anthony Easton, Richard Robinson and David Wharton were given the country''s top award the Ralph Glister Award for the most meritorious service of 1976 for an inshore lifeboat crew.
If it had done so, most of the glister would have been wiped off his "golden scenario" of growth with low inflation and falling unemployment.
A trio of film scores also added cinematic glister to proceedings, delivering a vibrant, exhilarating sound through the big stage's speakers.
Glister by John Burnside (Random House, pounds 14.99 hardback).
BILLERICAY: Steven (Wicks 79); Coxford, Schofield, Glister (Hudson 72), Collings; Harman, Smith; Pearmain (Hallett 35), Daly (capt), Bond (Brown 79), Clow, Holdgate, Green, (White 62), Bailey, Hayter.
Boffins do not believe the 'cheat' was an act of deception to hide the ' impurity of the gold, but more likely atechnique developed to improve and enhance its appearance, to make it glister more.
Robert Glister had given the Waggon the lead, but Liam Grant then levelled from a corner.
All that seems to glister is gold, with SubSea Resources pocketing the wealth of a cargo once destined for a country fighting for democracy.
Singer Jacqueline Dankworth's readings particularly of Someone to Watch Over Me tread abland path, all sophisticated nightclub glister in place of the desired Broadway brashness.
Waggon proved too strong for lowly Fourtrees as they cruised home 11-0 thanks to trebles from Ryan Lowes and Steve Mullholland, two from Colin Galbraith and singles from Paddy McNally, Rob Glister and David Murray.
Detective Sergeant Kelly Glister said: "The bag itself is a real mystery to us and we would like any information about where it comes from."
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