not all is cracked up to be

not all (someone or something) is cracked up to be

Not as good, enjoyable, impressive, or worthwhile as someone or something is reputed or said to be. Honestly, the movie isn't all it's cracked up to be. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for it. She's supposed to be some expert litigator who can quash any legal case before it reaches trial. So far, though, she hasn't been all she's cracked up to be.See also: all, cracked, not, up

not all something is cracked up to be

 and not what something is cracked up to beFig. not as good as something is said to be. (Not always in the negative.) This isn't a very good pen. It's not all it's cracked up to be. Is this one all it's cracked up to be?See also: all, cracked, not, up