there is more to (someone or something) than meets the eye

there is more to (someone or something) than meets the eye

Something or someone has more merit, import, or facets than is initially perceived. Don't discount Fred as a candidate for this job—there's more to him than meets the eye. This story goes deeper—there's definitely more to it than meets the eye.
See also: eye, meet, more, there
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

there's more to something/someone than meets the eye

COMMON If you say that there is more to something or someone than meets the eye, you mean that they are more complicated or interesting than they appear. I'm not sure I believe Molly's version of events — something tells me there's more to this than meets the eye. There is more to this giggly style of television presenting than meets the eye. On the surface, she seemed shy — mousy even, but there was a great deal more to her than met the eye.
See also: eye, meet, more, someone, something
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

there's more to someone or something than meets the eye

a person or situation is more complex or interesting than they appear.
See also: eye, meet, more, someone, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

there’s more to somebody/something than meets the ˈeye

a thing or a person is more complicated, difficult, interesting, etc., than it appears: Sailing isn’t easy — there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. Colleagues felt that there was more to his resignation than met the eye.
See also: eye, meet, more, somebody, something
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • there's more to somebody/something than meets the eye
  • there's more to someone or something than meets the eye
  • there's more to something/someone than meets the eye
  • be more to (someone or something) than meets the eye
  • more than meets the eye
  • there's more than meets the eye
  • be more than meets the eye
  • recognize (someone or something) as (someone or something)
  • recognize as
  • bad news