The devil is not so black as he is painted In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "the devil is not so black as he is painted", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

Regina Tuyen Le

2021-08-08 02:08

Meaning of The devil is not so black as he is painted

Synonyms:

(one's) bark is worse than (one's) bite

The devil is not so black as he is painted proverb

Someone is not as bad, cruel, maleficent as they are said or believed to be.

Till the end of the film "Joker", I realize that the devil is not so black as he is painted.

We cannot believe that Professor Severus Snape is as evil as people described. The devil is not so black as he is painted.

He is not as scary or evil as the villagers think. In truth, he also used to live a good and honest life. The devil is not so black as he is painted.

Other phrases about:

fast talker

Used to describe someone who is good at persuading people to do or believe something

stick (one's) chin out

Show fortitude, and determination of character

A Leopard Cannot Change its Spots

It means people cannot change their nature like personalities, habits, etc.

Your Reputation Precedes You

People have heard about you and they know about you before meeting you

slime bucket

A despicable person who does unscrupulous or immoral things

Origin of The devil is not so black as he is painted

This proverb comes from a work named A Dialogue of Comfort (1553) iii.xxii. "Some saye in sporte, and thinke in earnest: the devill is not so blacke as he is painted".