tout ce qui brille n'est pas or

/tu sə ki bʁij nɛ pa ɔʁ/◆proverb

not everything that shines is valuable

Ne te fie pas à cette offre, car tout ce qui brille n'est pas or.

Don't trust this offer, because not everything that shines is valuable.

◆ What It Really Means

A warning that attractive or impressive appearances do not necessarily indicate true value or quality.

¶ Literal Meaning

All that shines is not gold.

Literal Breakdown

toutall+ce qui brillethat which shines+n'est pas oris not gold

◇ Mental Image

The image of gold, which is valuable and shiny, is contrasted with other shiny objects that may not be valuable, suggesting that not all shiny things are precious.

◈ When to Use

A friend is considering buying an expensive item because it looks impressive, but you warn them by saying, 'Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or,' meaning they should not judge the item's value solely by its appearance.

◉ Cultural Note

This proverb is rooted in the idea that gold is a symbol of wealth and value, and it has been used in French literature and common speech for centuries to caution against superficial judgments.

informal

A warning that appearances can be deceiving; not everything that seems attractive or valuable is actually so.

Il a acheté la voiture parce qu'elle brillait, mais il a découvert qu'elle avait des problèmes mécaniques. Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or.

He bought the car because it shone, but he found out it had mechanical problems. Not everything that shines is valuable.

Certaines personnes semblent parfaites à l'extérieur, mais elles ont des défauts cachés. Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or.

Some people seem perfect on the outside, but they have hidden flaws. Not everything that shines is valuable.

This proverb is often used to caution against judging things or people solely by their outward appearance.

Synonyms

les apparences sont trompeuses il ne faut pas se fier aux apparences

Related Phrases

les apparences sont trompeusesproverb

appearances can be deceiving

il ne faut pas se fier aux apparencesproverb

you shouldn't trust appearances

Pro Tip

Cultural Context

This proverb is widely recognized in French culture and is often used in advice-giving situations, whether in personal or professional settings.

Gold Rule

Usage Rule

Use this proverb when you want to caution someone against being misled by superficial qualities.

Word Origin

This proverb originates from the idea that gold is valuable and shiny, but not all shiny objects are gold. It has been used in French literature and common speech for centuries to warn against superficial judgments.

Usage Notes

This proverb is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to advise caution when evaluating the true worth or quality of something or someone.

Word Breakdown

tout

all

root

ce qui brille

that which shines

root

n'est pas or

is not gold

root

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais

tout ce qui brille n'est pas or

/tu sə ki bʁij nɛ pa ɔʁ/◆proverb

not everything that shines is valuable

Ne te fie pas à cette offre, car tout ce qui brille n'est pas or.

Don't trust this offer, because not everything that shines is valuable.

◆ What It Really Means

A warning that attractive or impressive appearances do not necessarily indicate true value or quality.

¶ Literal Meaning

All that shines is not gold.

Literal Breakdown

toutall+ce qui brillethat which shines+n'est pas oris not gold

◇ Mental Image

The image of gold, which is valuable and shiny, is contrasted with other shiny objects that may not be valuable, suggesting that not all shiny things are precious.

◈ When to Use

◉ Cultural Note

This proverb is rooted in the idea that gold is a symbol of wealth and value, and it has been used in French literature and common speech for centuries to caution against superficial judgments.

informal

A warning that appearances can be deceiving; not everything that seems attractive or valuable is actually so.

Il a acheté la voiture parce qu'elle brillait, mais il a découvert qu'elle avait des problèmes mécaniques. Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or.

He bought the car because it shone, but he found out it had mechanical problems. Not everything that shines is valuable.

Certaines personnes semblent parfaites à l'extérieur, mais elles ont des défauts cachés. Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or.

Some people seem perfect on the outside, but they have hidden flaws. Not everything that shines is valuable.

This proverb is often used to caution against judging things or people solely by their outward appearance.

Synonyms

les apparences sont trompeuses il ne faut pas se fier aux apparences

Related Phrases

les apparences sont trompeusesproverb

appearances can be deceiving

il ne faut pas se fier aux apparencesproverb

you shouldn't trust appearances

Pro Tip

Cultural Context

This proverb is widely recognized in French culture and is often used in advice-giving situations, whether in personal or professional settings.

Gold Rule

Usage Rule

Use this proverb when you want to caution someone against being misled by superficial qualities.

Word Origin

Usage Notes

This proverb is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to advise caution when evaluating the true worth or quality of something or someone.

Word Breakdown

tout

all

root

ce qui brille

that which shines

root

n'est pas or

is not gold

root

Dictionnaire Français-Anglais