appearances can be deceiving

appearances can be deceiving

proverb Appearances do not always convey accurate information. That house sure looks beautiful on the outside, but appearances can be deceiving. What did the inspector say about the foundation? Sure, she seems nice, but appearances can be deceiving.
See also: appearance, can, deceive
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

Appearances can be deceiving.

Prov. Things can look different from the way they really are. Edward seems like a very nice boy, but appearances can be deceiving. Jane may look like she doesn't understand you, but she's really extremely bright. Appearances can be deceiving.
See also: Appearance, can, deceive
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • appearance
  • deceive
  • gray
  • all cats are gray at night
  • all cats are gray by night
  • all cats are gray in the dark
  • all cats are grey in the dark
  • teach a man to fish
  • village
  • it takes a village
References in periodicals archive
Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Chad used to seem like such a great guy.
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But appearances can be deceiving, and in this instance the hieroglyphics were the work of staff from the city engineer's department.
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So for all the endless online chatter about how Ashley is a wannabe Hilary the Sequel, please press "delete." Appearances can be deceiving. "I love change, and I love changing my hair.
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Appearances can be deceiving: Despite its size, Eminence struggles with many of the same problems as urban districts.
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Appearances can be deceiving. A man came to his office in the 30s, wearing a straw hat and looking like a country farmer.
A former employee remembers Joseph Schlang (1911-1999). (Profile of the Week)
But Susan Hill, who owns the two clinics that sued Scheidler and his colleagues, explained that appearances can be deceiving: "In our case, they weren't coming for the bag of money - but to force us to close down by blockades or threats.
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(Point: appearances can be deceiving, so always practice universal precautions, and review them during inservices.)
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He says that appearances can be deceiving. "In the environment," he says, "animals may look like they're doing fine, but they won't be as reproductively capable as their parents.
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