Not Much to Look At

Meaning of Idiom ‘Not Much to Look At’

Not much to look at means unattractive, plain, unappealing from a visual standpoint.

Quite often, some redeeming quality is added to this idiom.

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Usage Notes

This idiom is only rarely used alone without mentioning some positive aspect of the thing being discussed, although it certainly can be used alone.

Examples Of Use

“She’s not much to look at but she’s mine, she’s fast, and she’s reliable.”

“The building is not much to look at right now but it’s solid and the roof is new.”

“My dog may not be much to look at but to me, he’s the best dog in the world.”

“The dishes I cook are not much to look at but they are tasty and filling.”

“The apartment is in a good, safe neighborhood. The building is not much to look at, though. Just a brick box with cookie-cutter balconies.”

Origin

This idiom has been used since at least the mid-1800s. Not much, in English, can be used to mean not very good, impressive, etc. So, not much to look at means not very good or impressive to look at, or, in other words, not impressive in appearance.

More Idioms Starting with N

• Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat
• No Siree
• No Pain, No Gain
• No Hard Feelings
• Nine to Five (9 to 5)

More Much Idioms

• Too Much On One’s Plate
• A Bit Much
• Much Ado About Nothing

More Not Idioms

• Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat
• Not the Only Fish in the Sea
• I Hope Not
• Not Lift a Finger
• When Hell Freezes Over

More Look Idioms

• Look What the Cat Dragged In
• Keep a Lookout Meaning
• Look Down Your Nose
• Needle in a Haystack
• Miles Away, to be