all sizzle and no steak
A thing or person which fails to measure up to its description or advance promotion.
Her latest novel is all sizzle and no steak.
ADJ.
loved, vast
VERB + SIZZLE
give, hear, heard, hearing, love, sell
SIZZLE + NOUN
bacon, onions, steak, summer
PREP.
during, in
verb
To make the sound of water boiling on a hot surface.
The sausages were sizzling on the barbecue.
To cook (something) in a manner which causes that sound.
I sizzled the bacon for a few minutes in the pan.
To be exciting or dazzling.
The song sizzled with energy.
noun
The sound of water boiling on a hot surface.
We heard the sizzle of the onions hitting the pan.
The process of being cooked which involves that sound.
Give them a sizzle for a few more minutes before serving.
Zing, zip, or pizazz; excitement.
Her performance had a lot of sizzle.
Ellipsis of sizzle reel.
A thing or person which fails to measure up to its description or advance promotion.
Her latest novel is all sizzle and no steak.
The sausages were sizzling on the barbecue.
WiktionaryI sizzled the bacon for a few minutes in the pan.
WiktionaryThe song sizzled with energy.
WiktionaryWe heard the sizzle of the onions hitting the pan.
WiktionaryGive them a sizzle for a few more minutes before serving.
WiktionaryHer performance had a lot of sizzle.
Wiktionaryi Register
In some senses, sizzle is marked as informal. Watch for register when choosing this word.