not all it's cracked up to be

Idioms  

1. It is disappointing, it does not live up to its reputation, as in The restaurant wasn't all it's cracked up to be. This term uses crack up in the sense of “to praise,” which survives only in this expression. [Colloquial; early 1800s]

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Example Sentences

Turns out that “inexhaustible” abundance is not all it’s cracked up to be.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

The action ranges from country houses to wayside inns to London — which, as is often the case in such stories, is not all it’s cracked up to be.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2023

“To be honest, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be here either,” shrugged Jarred.

From The Guardian • May 29, 2016

I am sympathetic to your plight but watching eight hours of SportsCenter is not all it’s cracked up to be.

From Washington Post • Aug. 29, 2011

Then, halfway through, you realize it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah