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.
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.
- drive (one) out of office
- force (one) out of office
- force out of office
- give (one) (one's) head
- give head
- give somebody their head
- give someone their head
- cooking for one
- 1FTR
- as one door closes, another (one) opens