be not all it's cracked up to be
be not all it's cracked up to be
To be not as good, enjoyable, impressive, or worthwhile as it is reputed or said to be. Honestly, the movie isn't all it's cracked up to be. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for it. If you ask me, long-term relationships just aren't all they're cracked up to be.
See also: all, cracked, not, up
not all it's cracked up to be
Not as good, enjoyable, impressive, or worthwhile as it is reputed or said to be. Honestly, the movie isn't all it's cracked up to be. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for it. If you ask me, amusement parks just aren't all they're cracked up to be.
See also: all, cracked, not, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
not all it's cracked up to be
It is disappointing, it does not live up to its reputation, as in The restaurant wasn't all it's cracked up to be. This term uses crack up in the sense of "to praise," which survives only in this expression. [Colloquial; early 1800s]
See also: all, cracked, not, up
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
not all it's cracked up to be
COMMON If something is not all it's cracked up to be, it is not as good as people often say it is. Alexander is finding that life as a manager is not all it's cracked up to be. Holidays are not always all they're cracked up to be. Note: Cracked up to be is also used in other structures and expressions with a similar meaning. But are these islands in the sun everything they are cracked up to be? It's one of those places you hear so much about that you wonder if it really is as good as it's cracked up to be.
See also: all, cracked, not, up
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
not all it's cracked up to be
Not as outstanding as its reputation; disappointing. This term uses the verb to crack up in an older meaning rarely heard today, that is, “to praise.” The cliché dates from the nineteenth century. Wrote John A. Clark, “One of the lodgers . . . remarked that the Galt House was not after all just what it was cracked up to be” (Gleanings by the Way, 1837).
See also: all, cracked, not, up
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- be not what it's cracked up to be
- all it's cracked up to be
- a good trip
- good trip
- variety is the spice of life
- spice
- be the spice of life
- the cat's pajamas
- the cat's whiskers/pyjamas
- pajama