all fur coat and no knickers en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
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(UK, derogatory, idiomatic, not-comparable) Having a superficially positive appearance that is belied by the reality, e.g., superficially elegant and beautiful but actually common.
A nurse spoke for a number of her colleagues when she said that she felt that these developments were a waste of time and 'all fur coat and no knickers' (personal interview, 1994).
1999, David Brock, Michael J. Powell, Christopher Robin Hinings, Restructuring the professional organization: Accounting, Health Care and Law:"What about the wife?" "Bridget. She was all fur coat and no knickers. A real social climber." "But you liked her?" "Yes."
2005, Michael Robotham, Suspect:From this viewpoint some forms of Post-Modernism mean new façades for old concepts, dressing the skyscraper, or the vast supermarket in the garb of the tart - 'all fur coat and no knickers'.
2003, Cliff Moughtin, Urban Design: Street and Square:
Relateds
all hat and no cowboy · beauty is only skin deep · mutton dressed as lamb · all hat and no cattle