Appearance Idioms

Appearance Idioms

We all know looks can be deceiving, but the world of idioms takes this concept and runs with it! Appearance idioms use visual references to describe situations, personalities, and emotions in a way that’s both colorful and insightful.

List of Appearance Idioms

Appearance Idioms with Meaning and Examples

As pretty as a picture

• Meaning: Extremely attractive or beautiful.
• Example: She looked as pretty as a picture in her new dress.

Clean as a whistle

• Meaning: Completely clean or spotless.
• Example: The house was clean as a whistle after she finished tidying up.

Fit as a fiddle

• Meaning: In excellent physical condition.
• Example: Despite his age, he’s as fit as a fiddle and goes jogging every morning.

In the flesh

• Meaning: Present in person, not just seen in pictures or heard about.
• Example: I couldn’t believe it when I saw my favorite actor in the flesh.

Like a million dollars

• Meaning: Looking very attractive or feeling very good.
• Example: She felt like a million dollars after winning the competition.

Look a sight

• Meaning: Appear untidy, disheveled, or messy.
• Example: After working in the garden all day, she looked a sight with dirt all over her clothes.

Looks can be deceiving

• Meaning: Things or people might not be as they appear at first.
• Example: Although he seemed quiet, his intelligence showed that looks can be deceiving.

Plain Jane

• Meaning: A woman or girl who is not attractive or fashionable.
• Example: She prefers to dress plainly and is a bit of a Plain Jane.

Prim and proper

• Meaning: Neat and tidy in appearance and behavior, often to an exaggerated degree.
• Example: She always sits up straight and is very prim and proper.

Sharp as a tack

• Meaning: Very intelligent, smart, or quick-witted.
• Example: Even in his old age, his mind is still as sharp as a tack.

Skin and bones

• Meaning: Extremely thin, often unhealthily so.
• Example: After being sick for weeks, he looked like nothing but skin and bones.

Slick as a whistle

• Meaning: Smooth, polished, and neat.
• Example: His hair was slick as a whistle after applying gel.

The apple of someone’s eye

• Meaning: Someone’s favorite person, cherished above all others.
• Example: Their youngest daughter is the apple of their eye.

The spitting image of

• Meaning: Looks exactly like someone else, usually a parent or relative.
• Example: He’s the spitting image of his father when he was younger.

Ugly duckling

• Meaning: A person who is initially unattractive or unpromising but later becomes attractive or successful.
• Example: She used to be shy and awkward, but she’s blossomed into a beautiful woman. She’s like an ugly duckling turned into a swan.

Well-heeled

• Meaning: Wealthy or affluent, often referring to someone who dresses stylishly.
• Example: They’re a well-heeled family, with a big house and expensive cars.

With bells on

• Meaning: Eagerly and enthusiastically, often in anticipation of something enjoyable.
• Example: “Are you coming to the party?” “Yes, and I’ll be there with bells on!”

With flying colors

• Meaning: Excellently, with outstanding success or achievement.
• Example: She passed her exams with flying colors.

Dressed to the Nines

• Meaning: Wearing very stylish or fashionable clothing, often to an extravagant or impressive degree.
• Example: She was dressed to the nines for her graduation ceremony.

Look Like a Million Bucks

• Meaning: To look extremely attractive, elegant, or well-dressed.
• Example: After her makeover, she looked like a million bucks.

Spitting Image

• Meaning: A person or thing that looks exactly like someone or something else, often a close family member.
• Example: The baby is the spitting image of his father.

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

• Meaning: Advises not to form opinions about someone or something based solely on appearance.
• Example: Don’t judge her by her appearance; she’s very kind.

Beauty is Only Skin Deep

• Meaning: A person’s character and inner qualities are more important than their outward appearance.
• Example: Remember, beauty is only skin deep; what really matters is what’s inside.

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

• Meaning: Someone who appears harmless or innocent but is actually dangerous, deceptive, or malicious.
• Example: He seemed nice at first, but turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Long Face

• Meaning: Looking sad, disappointed, or dejected, often with a downcast expression.
• Example: When they announced the bad news, everyone had a long face.

Green Around the Gills

• Meaning: Looking pale or sick, as if about to vomit.
• Example: After the boat ride, he looked green around the gills.

Beaming Smile

• Meaning: A very wide and radiant smile, often showing happiness, joy, or pride.
• Example: She greeted us with a beaming smile when we arrived.

By understanding these appearance idioms, you can add depth and nuance to your communication. You can warn someone not to judge “a book by its cover” or describe a friend’s “beaming smile” after good news. Remember, appearance idioms are a reminder that looks can tell a story, but it’s often the story beneath the surface that holds the most meaning.

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