fool's gold
noun
: pyrite
broadly : any of various pyritic minerals resembling gold
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Winning off the efforts of Gordon, who will be on the wrong side of 35 when the Rockets are ready to actually contend, and Wood, who can walk entirely in a year, is fool's gold. 
Rahat Huq, Chron, 7 Dec. 2021 Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, is an iron sulfide mineral used in the paper and jewelry industries. Reuters, CNN, 23 Nov. 2021 Worthless at first glance, this mineral is widely used in the chemical industry, and a new discovery suggests fool's gold is much more valuable than its name suggests. David Bressan, Forbes, 27 June 2021 But that apparent turnaround proved fool's gold as the Kentucky collapsed in the final four minutes yet again, and Allen's attempt at a possible game-winning 3 clanked off the rim on the final possession of a season-ending 74-73 loss. Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, 11 Mar. 2021 Beating the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons in back-to-back games is fool's gold. Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press, 30 Oct. 2020 Iron sulfide, better known as pyrite or fool's gold, could have a new lease on the high life after researchers turned it into a magnet using an electrical treatment. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 31 July 2020 But Kitchens’ shine proved to be fool's gold, and Dorsey’s credibility takes a hit because of his lack of discernment in this area. Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2019 There's a mine built into the ground of the basement, which had revealed traces of gold when built, later found to be fool's gold. Mackenzie Shuman, azcentral, 7 Dec. 2019 See More
Rahat Huq, Chron, 7 Dec. 2021 Pyrite, also known as fool's gold, is an iron sulfide mineral used in the paper and jewelry industries. Reuters, CNN, 23 Nov. 2021 Worthless at first glance, this mineral is widely used in the chemical industry, and a new discovery suggests fool's gold is much more valuable than its name suggests. David Bressan, Forbes, 27 June 2021 But that apparent turnaround proved fool's gold as the Kentucky collapsed in the final four minutes yet again, and Allen's attempt at a possible game-winning 3 clanked off the rim on the final possession of a season-ending 74-73 loss. Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, 11 Mar. 2021 Beating the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons in back-to-back games is fool's gold. Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press, 30 Oct. 2020 Iron sulfide, better known as pyrite or fool's gold, could have a new lease on the high life after researchers turned it into a magnet using an electrical treatment. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 31 July 2020 But Kitchens’ shine proved to be fool's gold, and Dorsey’s credibility takes a hit because of his lack of discernment in this area. Mike Jones, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2019 There's a mine built into the ground of the basement, which had revealed traces of gold when built, later found to be fool's gold. Mackenzie Shuman, azcentral, 7 Dec. 2019 See More Word History
First Known Use
1828, in the meaning defined above