表ひょう紙し買がい

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

buying a book/magazine for its cover

Refers to the act of purchasing a book or magazine based solely on the appeal of its cover design, rather than its content.

• 彼かれはよく表ひょう紙し買がいをして、後あとで後こう悔かいする。

  He often buys books for their covers and regrets it later.

• この雑ざっ誌しは表ひょう紙し買がいしたけど、中なか身みも面おも白しろかった。

  I bought this magazine for its cover, but the content was interesting too.