fine feathers do not make fine birds

fine feathers do not make fine birds {literary}

A person who wears fine clothes may not be as good as he looks. — A proverb.

Mary is pretty and she wears pretty clothes, but she is very mean. Fine feathers do not make fine birds.

Compare: HANDSOME IS AS HANDSOME DOES.

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Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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handsome is as handsome does

[handsome is as handsome does] {informal} A person must act well and generously so that he will be truly worth respecting. - A proverb. * /Everyone thinks that Bon is […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

feather

[feather] See: [BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER], [TAR AND FEATHER], [FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS], [FUSS AND FEATHERS], [MAKE THE FEATHERS FLY], [RUFFLE FEATHERS]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

bird

[bird] See: [EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM] or [EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM], [EAT LIKE A BIRD], [FINE FEATHERS DO NOT MAKE FINE BIRDS], [FOR THE BIRDS], [KILL TWO BIRDS […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

fine-tooth comb

[fine-tooth comb] {n. phr.} Great care; careful attention so as not to miss anything. * /The police searched the scene of the crime with a fine-tooth comb for clues./ * […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

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