The phrase “not all it’s cracked up to be” is used to express disappointment or dissatisfaction when something doesn’t live up to the expectations or hype surrounding it. It refers to situations where something is thought to be much better or more impressive than it turns out to be. The origin of the phrase is unclear, but it likely comes from the idea that something that appears to be “cracked up” or highly praised might not have the substance or quality people expect. In Indonesian, this can be translated as “tidak sebagus yang dibayangkan” or “tidak seperti yang diharapkan”, which conveys a sense of unmet expectations.
Synonyms:
- Overhyped
- Disappointing
- Underwhelming
- Overrated
- Not as good as expected
- Letdown
- Not worth the hype
- Underperforming
- Overblown
- Not all it’s made out to be
Example Sentences:
- The movie was not all it’s cracked up to be—the plot was weak, and the acting was mediocre.
- I thought the new restaurant would be amazing, but it was not all it’s cracked up to be. The food was bland, and the service was slow.
- Everyone says the concert was incredible, but I found it not all it’s cracked up to be—the sound quality was poor, and the crowd was too noisy.
- The new smartphone is not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s got some cool features, but it’s not as revolutionary as everyone says.
- The job offer sounded great, but after a few months, I realized it was not all it’s cracked up to be.
- The vacation destination seemed perfect online, but once we got there, it was not all it’s cracked up to be—too crowded and too expensive.
- I thought the new book would be life-changing, but it was not all it’s cracked up to be—the plot was predictable, and the characters were flat.
- The new tech gadget is not all it’s cracked up to be. It looks cool, but the battery life is terrible.
- The event was not all it’s cracked up to be. The speakers were unprepared, and the schedule ran late.
- The luxury car I bought was not all it’s cracked up to be—it’s expensive to maintain and doesn’t offer much more than a regular car.
Related Words:
- Disappointment
- Overvaluation
- Letdown
- Unrealistic expectations
- Misleading
- Overstated
- Anti-climax
- Lackluster
- Subpar
- Mediocre
Related Phrasal Verbs:
- Fall short of expectations (to not meet the anticipated level of quality or performance, similar to not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Live up to (to meet the expected standard or reputation, often used in contrast to not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Come up short (to fail to meet expectations, much like not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Underperform (to perform below expectations or standards, often used when something is not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Let down (to disappoint someone or fall short of expectations, like when something is not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Fall flat (to be disappointing or ineffective, especially after high expectations, similar to not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Miss the mark (to fail to meet expectations or standards, akin to not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Disappoint someone (to not meet their hopes or expectations, similar to the meaning of not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Live in the shadow of (to be overshadowed by high expectations or reputation, often falling short of those standards)
- Fail to impress (to not leave a significant or positive impression, as in something not all it’s cracked up to be)
Idiomatic Expressions:
- Not what it’s cracked up to be (the full version of the phrase, used to describe something that doesn’t live up to its reputation)
- Blow the hype (to disappoint after too much attention or promotion, much like not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Not all it’s made out to be (a variant of the expression, meaning something is not as good as people say)
- Much ado about nothing (a situation where something is made to seem important or exciting, but it’s actually insignificant, similar to not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Full of hot air (to be all talk and no substance, often when something is not all it’s cracked up to be)
- All talk, no action (to promise a lot but deliver little, similar to being not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Don’t believe the hype (a warning not to trust exaggerated claims, similar to not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Much to do about nothing (similar to much ado about nothing, indicating that something is overhyped or overvalued)
- A storm in a teacup (a situation where too much fuss is made over something insignificant, like not all it’s cracked up to be)
- Like a flash in the pan (something that initially seems exciting or promising but turns out to be unimpressive, much like not all it’s cracked up to be)
The expression “not all it’s cracked up to be” highlights the gap between expectations and reality. It’s a reminder that just because something is hyped or praised doesn’t necessarily mean it will meet our expectations. In fact, it often serves as a cautionary phrase to temper high hopes with a bit of skepticism.
