ugly duckling


ugly duckling

noun

Definition of UGLY DUCKLING

: one that appears very unpromising but often has great potential

Examples of UGLY DUCKLING

  1. The house is an ugly duckling, but it has a lot of potential.

Origin of UGLY DUCKLING

The Ugly Duckling, story by Hans Christian Andersen
First Known Use: 1869

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Next Word in the Dictionary: ugly–nest caterpillar
Previous Word in the Dictionary: Ugly American
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