The first time I heard the phrase, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover,’ was when I was book shopping with my grandmother for my tenth birthday. I easily got excited at books with covers with exquisite designs.
However, when I scanned through them, I was disappointed with the content. My grandmother patted me on the head and gently said to me, ‘If you want to get the most out of this book-shopping experience, avoid judging a book by its cover.’
I’ve kept that advice close to my heart so much so that over time, I’ve found new ways to respond to anyone who’d want to advise me not to judge a book by its cover.
In this article, I will be sharing twenty (20) funny replies that I give to the statement ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’ Feel free to use any one of them at any time, as it is inevitable you will likely hear this statement often.
20 Funny Replies for Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
- I agree with you; I once judged a book by its cover and ended up with a recipe for disaster.
- I know. It’s like expecting a pizza but getting a salad. Surprise!
- Let’s look at it this way – if books were ice cream, the cover would be the cone. But you never know what flavor is inside until you open it!
- I agree because even a book with a boring cover might have an exciting story inside.
- I don’t; unless the cover’s winking at me, then I’m in for a wild ride.
- Wish I had known that sooner; I would not have ended up reading about Ilamas doing yoga in space.
- Well, if the book cover has a picture of a medium-rare steak and a glass of chilled champagne, I’d judge that book as delicious!
- If I judge wrong and it turns out to be a cookbook for dogs, my dog would be impressed.
- Last time, I saw one with a picture of a unicorn riding a bicycle. How could I resist?
- I tried not to judge a book by its cover, but then I saw one with a title that said Secrets of Socks and my curiosity got the best of me.
- I hear you, but if it has glitter on it, I’m sold!
- I tried not to, but then I saw one with a title that said, ‘101 Ways to Roast Someone on Twitter,’ and I had to take a peek inside.
- Well, the best decision I ever made was when I ignored that advice and read a story about talking socks.
- The last time I ignored that advice, I had a sole-searching experience when I ended up reading a gripping saga about sentient shoes.
- Alright, but I must warn you, if that cover has a picture of a disco-dancing elephant, I’m not resisting.
- If I’m looking for a book on magical fiesta and I see a book cover with a picture of a magical unicorn eating tacos, I’ll surely ignore that advice.
- I learned that the hard way when I mistook a cookbook for a guide on alien communication. Let’s just say my spaghetti bolognaise did not attract any extraterrestrial visitors.\
- If the cover looks anything like a chocolate bar, I’m already halfway through chapter one.
- If you fail to package or present yourself well, people will judge you by the way you look.
- It depends on who’s looking at the book. A book cover with glitter will be fabulous for a teenager.
1. I agree with you. I once judged a book by its cover and ended up with a recipe for disaster
This is the best response to use if you intend to be sarcastic and funny. Of course, when you agree with someone they will pay attention to what you have said which makes using this response quite effective.
- ‘I agree with you.’
- ‘Yeah?’
- ‘I once judged a book by its cover and ended up with a recipe for disaster.’
2. I know. It’s like expecting a pizza but getting a salad. Surprise!
This statement is more of a witty comparison than a statement of fact. Those who don’t like to keep a diet will find this hilarious cause it hits close to home.
- ‘I know right?’
- ‘Of course.’
- ‘It’s like expecting a pizza but getting a salad. Surprise!’
3. Let’s look at it this way – if books were ice cream, the cover would be the cone. But you never know what flavor is inside until you open it!
If you’re an ice cream lover, it may please you to know that you’ve found the perfect response to the statement ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’
- ‘Let’s look at it this way -’
- ‘What way?’
- ‘…if books were ice cream, the cover would be the cone. But you never know what flavor is inside until you open it!’
4. I agree because even a book with a boring cover might have an exciting story inside.
If you are to use this response, it must mean that you are a voracious reader and that you’ve had your share of boring covers and mind-blowing plots.
- ‘Try not to judge a book by its cover.’
- ‘I agree because even a book with a boring cover might have an exciting story inside.’
5. I don’t; unless the cover’s winking at me, then I’m in for a wild ride
Why do I feel this is referring to more than a book? This ‘book’ could be referring to a devilishly handsome man or a pretty green-eyed goddess. Whichever one it is, you are in for a wild ride.
- ‘I don’t;…’
- ‘Really?’
- ‘Yeah, well unless the cover’s winking at me, then I’m in for a wild ride.’
6. Wish I had known that sooner, I would not have ended up reading about Ilamas in space
Talk about spilled milk. You use this response if the advice comes too late and the harm has already been done.
- ‘Wish I knew that sooner…’
- ‘It’s not too late.’
- ‘I would not have ended up reading about Ilamas in space.’
7. Well, if the book cover has a picture of a medium rare steak and a glass of chilled champagne, I’d judge that book as delicious!
I don’t know if you are such a foodie as I am, but if I were to see a book displaying the combination of my favorite food and wine, I’d check it out.
- ‘Well, if the book cover has a picture of a medium rare steak and a glass of chilled champagne,…’
- ‘What would you do?’
- ‘I’d judge that book as delicious.’
8. If I judge wrong and it turns out to be a cookbook for dogs, my dog would be impressed.
This response is suitable for animal lovers and pet owners. Imagine getting a cookbook that allows you to prepare as many delicious meals for your dog as possible. Of course, your pet would love it, more treats for them.
- ‘If I judge wrong and it turns out to be a cookbook for dogs,…’
- ‘Ouch?’
- ‘Nah, my dog would be impressed.’
9. Last time, I saw one with a picture of a unicorn riding a bicycle. How could I resist?
One of the best designs that gets people’s attention as quickly as possible is weird. This is because eccentric magnets pay attention to the way bees are drawn to honey.
- ‘Last time, I saw one with a picture of a unicorn riding a bicycle.’
- ‘Interesting.’
- ‘Exactly! How could I resist?’
10. I tried not to judge a book by its cover, but then I saw one with a title that said Secrets of Socks and my curiosity got the best of me.
Authors and marketers have been known to use weird book names to attract the attention of readers, so don’t blame yourself if you judge a book by its cover just because the name is unusual.
- ‘I tried not judging a book by its cover,…’
- ‘And what happened?’
- ‘I saw one with a title that said secrets of socks and my curiosity got the best of me.’
11. I hear you, but if the cover’s wearing sunglasses, I’m sold cause I know that it will be too cool to handle.
Very pun intended. This response symbolizes that when a person wears sunglasses they look cool and it gives them a kind of classy feeling hence if a book cover has sunglasses on it, it should mean the same thing.
- ‘I hear you, but if the cover’s wearing sunglasses,…’
- ‘What will you do?’
- ‘I’m sold ’cause I know that it will be too cool to handle.’
12. I tried not to, but then I saw one with a title that said, ‘101 Ways to Roast Someone on X,’ and I had to take a peek inside
X is the social media platform previously known as Twitter and also known as the headquarters of social violence.
You must have a thick skin to survive on that platform hence imagine a book promising to give you the thick skin that you need.
Of course, you will be intrigued.
- ‘I tried not to, but then I saw one with a title that said,…’
- ‘What?’
- ‘101 ways to roast someone on X.’ I had to take a peek inside.’
13. Well, the best decision I ever made was when I ignored that advice and ended up reading a story about talking socks
Sometimes the wrong decisions end up being the best ones. So, if you ignore the advice and it brings the best story to your lap, then feel free to enjoy it.
- ‘…ignoring that advice and ending up reading a story about talking socks.’
14. The last time I ignored that advice, I had a sole-searching experience when I ended up reading a gripping saga about sentient shoes
This statement starts in such a way that would make a person think you are about to share a bad experience but you end up having a sole-searching experience.
- ‘The last time I ignored that advice,…’
- ‘What happened?’
- ‘I had a sole-searching experience when I ended up reading a gripping saga about sentient shoes.’
15. Alright, but I must warn you, if that cover has a picture of a disco-dancing elephant, I’m not resisting
Well, to be forewarned is to be ready, hence, if you let them know that you are good with keeping to the advice with just this one exception then they won’t be too surprised when you choose a book with just a weird book cover.
- ‘Alright, but I must warn you,…’
- ‘Any problem?’
- ‘…if that cover has a picture of a disco-dancing elephant, I’m not resisting.’
16. If I’m looking for a book on magical fiesta and I see a book cover with a picture of a magical unicorn eating tacos, I’ll surely ignore that advice
If you are a lover of supernatural or magical books and/or movies, then this is the right response to use when a person asks you not to judge a book by its cover.
- ‘If I’m looking for a book about a magical fiesta and I see a book cover with a picture of a magical unicorn eating tacos,…’
- ‘What will you do?’
- ‘I’ll surely ignore that advice.’
17. I learned that the hard way when I mistook a cookbook for a guide on alien communication. Let’s just say my spaghetti bolognaise did not attract any extraterrestrial visitors
You use this response when the deed has already been done and you are just sharing from an experience you have concerning the subject at hand.
- ‘I learned that the hard way when I mistook a cookbook for a guide on alien communication.’
- ‘Oops, what happened?’
- ‘Let’s just say my spaghetti bolognaise did not attract any extraterrestrial visitors.’
18. If the cover looks anything like a chocolate bar, I’m already halfway through chapter one
This response is most suitable for chocolate lovers or those who love anything made with chocolate.
- ‘If the cover looks anything like a chocolate bar,…’
- ‘You’d do what?’
- ‘Let’s just say, I’ll already be halfway through chapter one.’
19. If you fail to package or present yourself well, people will judge you by the way you look
Since this phrase is mostly used to advise a person not to judge a person by their physical appearance, you can use this response if that is the case with you.
- ‘If you fail to package or present yourself well,…’
- ‘What will happen?’
- ‘…people will judge you by the way you look.’
20. It depends on who’s looking at the book. A book cover with glitter will be fabulous for a teenager
This response is suitable if it is said by a teenager, a mom, or even an adult (like a teacher, nanny, career, etc) who works with teenagers a lot.
- ‘It depends on who’s looking at the book.’
- ‘Why?’
- ‘Well, a book cover with glitter will be fabulous for a teenager.’
To End With,
Kudos! You’ve gotten to the last of the list. If you smiled or are smiling at any of the above responses, then I must have left a good impression on you.
This means that you can use them also if you want to create a light-hearted atmosphere and leave a good impression on people.
I will be waiting in the comment section for your feedback or your experience after you use the statement(s).