Meaning
"Don't judge a book by its cover"は、物事や人を外見だけで判断してはいけないという意味の英語表現です。このフレーズは、見た目や第一印象が必ずしもその本質を反映しているわけではないことを伝えるために使われます。
例えば、新しい人に出会ったとき、その人の服装や外見だけで性格や能力を決めつけないようにしましょう。同様に、商品のパッケージが魅力的でなくても、その中身が優れていることがあるかもしれません。このように、見た目に惑わされず、本質を理解しようとする姿勢が大切です。
日常生活では、意外な才能を持つ人や、予想外に役立つ物事に出会うことがあります。そうした時に「Don't judge a book by its cover」を思い出し、偏見を持たずに物事を見極める習慣を身につけることが重要です。
この表現を通じて、表面的な情報だけでなく、内面や実質を重視することの重要性を学びましょう。
"Don't judge a book by its cover"は、外見や第一印象だけで物事や人を判断してはいけないという意味の英語の表現です。見た目だけではその本質や価値を理解できないことが多いため、注意が必要であることを伝えています。
このフレーズは日常生活のさまざまな場面で使われます。例えば、新しい人と出会ったとき、その人の服装や外見だけで性格や能力を決めつけるのではなく、実際に話をしたり時間を過ごしたりしてから判断することが大切です。
また、物事に対しても同様です。例えば、古く見える建物や物があっても、中に入ると意外な美しさや機能があるかもしれません。表面的な情報に惑わされず、内面や実際の価値を重視する姿勢が求められます。
このように、"Don't judge a book by its cover"は、慎重に物事を評価し、多角的に見ることの重要性を教えてくれる表現です。外見に惑わされず、真の価値を見極めることを心掛けましょう。
Example
These cupcakes were store-bought but they're delicious! I guess that saying, 'Don't judge a book by its cover', was right.
This new fruit looks a bit strange, but don't judge a book by its cover! You've gotta try it, it's mouth-watering delicious.
I know this Christmas present looks a bit small, but don't judge a book by its cover. It's what's on the inside that counts.
We have a few new employees that started today. But I'm not one to judge a book by its cover. I'm sure they are all pleasant people to work with.
Quiz
What is an Idiom
An idiom is a phrase or expression that usually presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase. Idioms are not just used in conversations – they're also very common in literature, movies, and music. We utilize them to convey a message in a concise and effective manner, and often have deep cultural or historical significance. They help to create a vivid and memorable image in the minds of the audience.
Idioms are difficult because they do not mean what they literally state. Communication challenges emerge when you translate an idiom in your language; it will not make sense or if it does make sense you may miss the intended meaning.
How to Study Idioms
- Read them. Read books, newspapers, magazine articles, online articles for exposure in written material.
- Watch them. Watch TV shows and movies in English! There are so many streaming services available for you to choose from. Listen attentively and try to understand the context in which they are used.
- Use them. Talk to native speakers and try to incorporate common idioms into your conversations. Try using them during conversations with friends, family, coworkers, or through text.
- Practice. Practice. Practice. Remember that you can't learn all of them! So start with a few that you understand and build your library of idioms from there!
