Whiteisms
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Etymology Journal ยท A

All sizzle and no steak

Meaning

Describes something that creates a lot of hype or excitement but lacks substance. It is the flashy packaging that hides an empty box.

Skeptical, blunt

Used in a sentence

  • That new software presentation was all sizzle and no steak.
  • I would not buy that car because the marketing is all sizzle and no steak.
  • He promised a massive promotion but his plan was all sizzle and no steak.

The backstory

This is a twentieth century Americanism that likely evolved from restaurant culture. It captures the enticing sound of a cooking steak that turns out to be flavorless or non-existent.

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