Session 2
The Experiment is a collection of short series that are a little different to our usual programmes - but still help you improve your English.
Our first series, We say - You say, shows how YOUR language can help you remember English expressions.
Session 2 score
0 / 4
- 0 / 4Activity 1
Activity 1
We Say - You Say
We say...
Don't judge a book by its cover. It means you shouldn’t judge the value of something or someone based on their appearance.
Examples:
Maria is only fifteen years old, but she is very mature and knowledgeable, so it shows you can’t judge a book by its cover.
When we arrived, the hotel looked amazing – but once we got inside the rooms were dirty and damp. Well it just goes to show, don't always judge a book by its cover!
Watch the video and complete the activity

Sian
Don't judge a book by its cover means you shouldn’t judge the value of something or someone based on their appearance.
Examples:
Maria is only fifteen years old, but she is very mature and knowledgeable, so it shows you can’t judge a book by its cover.
When we arrived, the hotel looked amazing – but once we got inside the rooms were dirty and damp. Well it just goes to show, don't always judge a book by its cover!
You say…
Giang
You say 'don't judge a book by its cover', so in Vietnamese we have the same saying - Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn – meaning, take the quality of the wood instead of its veneer.
Famil
In English you would say 'don't judge a book by its cover'. In Russian it would sound like this Встречают по одежке, провожают по уму – which basically means, you meet someone and judge them first by what they wear, but your final judgement is by what is in their head.
Liston
You say 'don't judge a book by its cover', Indonesians say Jangan nilai buku dari sampulnya – which means you don't judge people from what they wear or how they look but it is more from how they behave.
Sian
So, those are a few examples of 'don't judge a book by its cover' in other languages. What do you say?
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Did you like that? Why not try these?
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You say...
In Vietnamese - Tốt gỗ hơn tốt nước sơn – which means, 'Take the quality of the wood instead of its veneer.'
In Russian - Встречают по одежке, провожают по уму – which means, 'You meet someone and judge them first by what they wear, but your final judgement is by what is in their head.'
In Indonesian - Jangan nilai buku dari sampulnya – which means, 'You don't judge people from what they wear or how they look; it is more from how they behave.'
What do you say in YOUR language?
To do
Try our quiz to see what you've learnt about the meaning of today's expression:
How well do you know this phrase?
4 Questions
Decide if these examples correctly use the phrase 'don't judge a book by its cover'
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Activity
Decide if these examples correctly use the phrase 'don't judge a book by its cover'
Hint
You shouldn’t judge the value of something or someone based on their appearance.Question 1 of 4
Help
Activity
Decide if these examples correctly use the phrase 'don't judge a book by its cover'
Hint
You shouldn’t judge the value of something or someone based on their appearance.Question 2 of 4
Help
Activity
Decide if these examples correctly use the phrase 'don't judge a book by its cover'
Hint
You shouldn’t judge the value of something or someone based on their appearance.Question 3 of 4
Help
Activity
Decide if these examples correctly use the phrase 'don't judge a book by its cover'
Hint
You shouldn’t judge the value of something or someone based on their appearance.Question 4 of 4
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