答：它是一句俗语，意指“状况身后有文章内容”。有关这儿的than，英语的语法家们的建议不是很一致。有的觉得它是连词，之后省去了what；有的则觉得它是关系代词（或准关系代词）。针对新手而言，第一种建议好像较为容易接受。句中的more 为专有名词，than在这句话中作关系代词，另外在句中兼作主语。than在从句中它能够兼作主语、宾语和表语， 它只和其前的修饰词，介词的比较级一起用。其句式为：
V…
比较级……than （比……更……）
S V
There were more candidates than (=than what was) expected. 侯选人比预估的多。(作主语)
You spent more money than (=than what) was intended to be spent. (作主语)
Lei Feng always did more work than (=than what) was required of him. (作主语)
There are better things in the world than (=than what) are dreamed of. (作主语)
There is more money than (=than what) is needed. 有比所必须的大量的钱。(作主语)
There is more in it than (=than what) you imagine. 在其中还有你想像不上的含意。（作宾语）
More is meant than meets the ear. 意在言外。
There may be more importance in it than (=than what) would seem. (作主语)
There is more (to it) than (=than what) meets the eye. (作主语) 状况身后有文章内容。
There were more people present than (=than what) was/ were expected. 来的人比期待来的人多。(作主语)
She spent more money than (=than what) was intended. 她花的钱比原先准备的要花得多。(作主语)
I borrowed more books than (=than what) was allowed. 我借的书比所容许借的多。(作主语)
He spends more money than (=than what) he earns. 他花的钱比挣的多。 （作宾语）
Don’t give children more money than (=than what) is needed. 不必给孩子超过她们所必须的钱。(作主语)
Children should not have more money than (=than what) they need. 小朋友们不能带比必须大量的钱。（作宾语）
之上十四句能看做为定语从句。下列六句则不可以当作是定语从句，由于than前分别是修饰词或介词的比较级，句中沒有先行词，than在句中只起代指功效。
Don’t eat more than (=than what) is good for you. (作主语)
The question is more complicated than (=than what) appears on the surface. (作主语)
He works longer than (=than what) is required of him. (作主语)
The price is more than (=than what) I thought. （作宾语）
He looks far older than (=than what) he is. 他看上去比具体年纪要老得多。（作表语）
It is more than (=than what) I can tell. 那我不知道。
下句中的than作连词正确引导从句时，从句中一般省去与主句中同样的一部分，如:
We arrived three days earlier than (we) planned. 大家比计划早三天到。