Initially referring to newspapers, as in ‘don’t believe everything you read in the papers,’ this phrase has long been used to refer to anything published through print, as in a magazine, book, or on the internet. Today, the wisdom in these words is more important than ever. You really should not believe everything you read!
Meaning of Idiom ‘Don’t Believe Everything You Read’
When someone says don’t believe everything you read, they mean that you should not believe, or take at face value, everything you read in printed publications or online as you may not realize that it is misleading, fabricated, or inaccurate.
Also used: you can’t believe everything you read
Sentence Examples
“I read that a serving of peanuts each day guarantees you’ll never have heart trouble,” said Don. “Don’t believe everything you read,” replied Joe.
“I just read that the way to cure cancer is to stop eating sure because it will starve the cancer!” said Peter. “You can’t believe everything you read, especially about cancer,” replied John.
“The actor dispelled the rumors about his alleged role in the new superhero movie by saying you shouldn’t believe everything you read.”
Origin
Used since at least the mid-1800s as in this 1864 example by Anthony Trollope from The Small House at Allington:
“No, I didn’t,” said Crosbie, very angrily. “I didn’t beat him at all. You don’t believe everything you read in the newspapers, do you?”
