beauty is but skin-deep

proverb

Synonym of beauty is only skin deep.

Meanings

proverb
  1. Synonym of beauty is only skin deep.

    Beauty is but skin-deep, and age or fickneſs ſoon withers this flower, when grace and goodneſs are more durable

    1677, Edward Bury (Minister of Great Bolas.), The Husbandmans Companion: Containing One Hundred Occasional Meditations, Reflections and Ejaculations, Especially Suited to Men of that Employment, Etc, page 117

    Synonyms: beauty is only skin deep

Synonyms & antonyms

proverbSynonym of beauty is only skin deep.

Origin

First use appears c. 1677. See cite below.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

beauty is but skin-deep. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beauty%20is%20but%20skin-deep

MLA

“beauty is but skin-deep.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beauty%20is%20but%20skin-deep. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “beauty is but skin-deep,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/beauty%20is%20but%20skin-deep.

Source: beauty is but skin-deep on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.