Do you want to know how to describe something that isn’t what it seems?
Perhaps you’re worried the phrase “things aren’t always what they seem” isn’t appropriate to use in professional contexts.
But you don’t have to worry any longer!
This article will teach you how to say “things aren’t always what they seem” in other ways.
When Can I Use “Things Aren’t Always What They Seem”?
You can use “things aren’t always what they seem” in informal writing. It’s a good way to describe unusual things that might not do what you originally thought.
For the most part, it’s not professional to say something like this.
You’d be much more likely to find something like this in creative writing.
Therefore, you can review this example to learn more about it:
Things aren’t always what they seem. That’s why you always need to be careful what you wish for around these parts.
Pros
- It’s a great way to talk about unusual things.
- It’s creative and exciting for most readers.
Cons
- It’s a bit wordy and generic.
- It’s unprofessional.
So, it’s clear that “things aren’t always what they seem” works well in most written cases (creatively, that is). But that doesn’t mean you can’t explore alternatives to mix things up.
Keep reading to learn another way to say “things aren’t always what they seem.” We’ve gathered a list of some of the best alternatives to help you understand more.
What to Say Instead of “Things Aren’t Always What They Seem”
- Appearances can be deceiving
- Not everything is as it appears
- Looks can be misleading
- Reality may be different from appearances
- The surface can be misleading
- Not all that glitters is gold
- The truth may be an illusion
- Don’t judge a book by its cover
- What meets the eye may deceive
1. Appearances Can Be Deceiving
We recommend starting with “appearances can be deceiving.” It’s a great phrase to use if you want to be direct and ominous when discouraging someone from believing everything they see.
For instance, you can use this when writing creatively. After all, it suggests that one of your characters might not be the most honest person, even if they seem like they are.
Generally, it’s a good way to build a rich backstory. You can use it because it shows that you should never judge someone based on how they look. Instead, you should get to know them first.
You can also review these examples to learn a bit more about it:
I want you to be careful trusting them because appearances can be deceiving. I’m here for you if you need me.
Appearances can be deceiving, so try not to get too far ahead of yourself, mister! I’m watching you.
2. Not Everything Is as It Appears
It’s also good to use “not everything is as it appears” as another way to say “things aren’t always what they seem.”
For the most part, this synonym encourages people to question themselves.
It shows that you should never take anything at face value. Instead, you should do more research or learn more about something to ensure it’s what you think it is.
For instance, let’s say you’re interested in a job opportunity and tell one of your friends about it.
However, upon closer inspection, your friend notices a few interesting things about it. Perhaps it’s not the dream job you were looking for.
Well, your friend could use this phrase to get you to look into it more. It’s encouraging and shows you might have missed something more sinister.
Also, you can check out these message examples to learn more about it:
Not everything is as it appears with this opportunity. I think you should review it again and let me know what you think.
Just be careful because not everything is as it appears. I’m worried you might be falling into a trap.
3. Looks Can Be Misleading
Try using “looks can be misleading” to mix up your writing. It’s a great synonym that shows you’ve noticed how some things might fool you into believing something.
Generally, you can use this when describing a villainous character.
After all, it’s a useful phrase to include in your writing that keeps the reader engaged.
For the most part, it shows them that you’ve developed a deep character for them to explore. This should work well if you’re trying to create a page-turner that really interests people.
Also, you should review these examples to learn more:
Remember, looks can be misleading. I don’t want you falling into any traps that might get you in trouble.
Looks can be misleading, and you might just fall for them. Of course, everyone else has fallen for the same trick.
4. Reality May Be Different From Appearances
It’s also good to use “reality may be different from appearances” to help people question what they know.
This is a profound synonym that suggests people should stop taking things so seriously. It also implies that reality is fickle and always able to change.
This should encourage readers to look further into things. It will help them to do some digging and show them that they can never be certain about situations.
You should also review these examples to find out more:
Reality may be different from appearances. That’s why we implore you to do research into all of these matters.
Look, reality may be different from appearances. So, it’s up to you to work out what’s wrong and what’s right.
5. The Surface Can Be Misleading
It’s also smart to use “the surface can be misleading.”
This is a good way to warn friends of people or things you don’t trust. It suggests that they should be careful trusting others just because they look like reasonable people.
For the most part, this is a great way to show your friends that you care about them and want them to be okay.
It’s also good to review these examples to learn more:
The surface can be misleading. I just think you should be careful what you wish for.
The surface can be misleading. Please don’t do anything that might get you into trouble.
6. Not All That Glitters Is Gold
Going back to more creative alternatives, you can use “not all that glitters is gold.”
This is a good idiom that works well to spice up your writing.
Generally, you can use it to show that something may look good on the surface, but it’s not always a good thing when you dig deeper.
Therefore, it’s a great synonym for “things aren’t always what they seem” that shows people need to be a bit more cautious and less trusting.
Also, it’s worth reviewing these examples to learn more:
Remember, not all that glitters is gold. It’s hard to know what is, but you’re going to have to learn eventually.
Not all that glitters is gold. I’m sure you’ll find your fair share of problems as you move forward with this.
7. The Truth May Be an Illusion
Another way to say “things aren’t always what they seem” is “the truth may be an illusion.”
The implication of this phrase is that you never know when something is actually “true.” It might be an illusion designed to trick you, so you’ll need to be more careful.
Therefore, this can work well when writing a novel. It suggests that readers (or characters within the novel) need to pay attention to their surroundings and not get caught out.
Also, you should review these examples to learn more:
The truth may be an illusion. So, it’s up to you to try and work out what’s real and what’s fake.
The truth may be an illusion. Please be careful going out there and trying to figure these things out.
8. Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover
One of the most common idioms that works well here is “don’t judge a book by its cover.”
For the most part, this idiom means that just because a book cover looks good, that doesn’t mean the book is worth reading.
Similarly, if the book cover is bad or boring, it might still be worth reading the book to surprise yourself.
Here are some great examples to show you how it works:
I want you to remember, don’t judge a book by its cover. You should only judge it by its content.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. You might just fall into a trap and realize you’ve made a big mistake.
9. What Meets the Eye May Deceive
Finally, we recommend using “what meets the eye may deceive.”
This is quite a profound synonym that shows people need to look deeply into something to figure it out.
For the most part, you can use this in a warning or cautionary tale. It shows you’re trying to convince people not to take everything at face value because you never know who to trust.
Try reviewing these examples if you still need help with it:
What meets the eye may deceive you. If you’re not careful, you’ll quickly find that out the hard way.
What meets the eye may deceive. So, you’re going to need to be cautious of the people you trust around these parts.