看板倒(かんばんだお)れ

かんばんだおれ
noun
all show and no substance; failing to live up to one's reputation
idiom
1. all show and no substance; failing to live up to one's sign
Describes a situation where the outward appearance, reputation, or advertising does not match the actual quality or reality. Literally means the signboard has fallen over — the impressive facade has collapsed.
あの店(みせ)は看板倒(かんばんだお)れだ。
That shop is all show and no substance.
有名(ゆうめい)シェフの店(みせ)だが、味(あじ)は看板倒(かんばんだお)れだった。
It was a famous chef's restaurant, but the taste didn't live up to the name.
スローガンだけ立派(りっぱ)で実行(じっこう)が伴(ともな)わないのは看板倒(かんばんだお)れと言(い)わざるを得(え)ない。
Having impressive slogans without follow-through can only be called all talk and no action.

Literally "the signboard has fallen over" — the impressive sign (看板(かんばん)) collapses (倒(たお)れ), meaning the outward appearance or reputation does not hold up. A vivid metaphor for businesses, policies, or people that promise much but deliver little.

Common collocations

  • 看板倒(かんばんだお)れに終(お)わる: to end up as empty promises
  • 看板倒(かんばんだお)れの政策(せいさく): a policy that's all talk
  • 看板倒(かんばんだお)れにならないように: so as not to be all show

Similar words

  • 名前負(なまえま)け: losing to one's name — when someone or something can't live up to a grand name
  • 有名無実(ゆうめいむじつ): famous in name only — formal expression for something that exists in name but has no substance
  • 羊頭狗肉(ようとうくにく): sheep's head, dog meat — advertising something fine but selling something inferior (more literary)

Related Words

Compare: 有名無実(ゆうめいむじつ) (famous in name only)
Related: 看板(かんばん)を掲(かか)げる (to hang out a sign)
general
Added 2026.4.8 6:09 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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