THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
More than meets the eye
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
More details or complexity than are obvious at first.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- There is more to organising a school trip than meets the eye.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?
More details or complexity than are obvious at first.
Show the answer
More than meets the eye — More details or complexity than are obvious at first.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “More than meets the eye” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
More details or complexity than are obvious at first.
Compare: There is more to organising a school trip than meets the eye.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use this expression when an apparently simple situation has less visible aspects. It fits conversation and general writing without necessarily implying wrongdoing.
More examples in context
- This quiet little workshop has more to it than meets the eye.
- I suspect there is more to the delay than meets the eye.
Usage note
A useful pattern is “There is more to something than meets the eye”. Keep “meets” singular. Hidden complexity does not automatically mean there is a secret or a dishonest motive.
A short conversation
A: Replacing the sign looks like a ten-minute job.
B: There’s more to it than meets the eye. We need permission and special fixings.
A: Let’s check those details first.
One more practice question
What does “There is more to the problem than meets the eye” suggest?
A. Everything about the problem is already obvious.
B. The problem has aspects that are not immediately obvious.
Check your answer
B. The expression points to less visible details or complexity.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.