ENGLISH
REFERENCE

a picture is worth 1000 words

idiom
Meaning

Better to show than tell


Origin

Coined in 1920s American advertising by Fred R. Barnard, who promoted it as an ancient 'Chinese proverb' to lend it weight.

Examples
SIMPLE

A picture is worth 1000 words when you explain a new design.

CONTEXTUAL

Instead of describing the beautiful sunset to my friends, I just showed them my photo because a picture is worth 1000 words.

COMPLEX

The journalist chose to lead with a powerful photograph of the protest, knowing that a picture is worth 1000 words when capturing the raw emotion of a crowd.

Last updated June 7, 2026