Zoeken
Ugly duckling
01
lelijk eendje, ongelukkige persoon
an unattractive or unsuccessful person or thing that later turns attractive or successful
Idiom
InformalWhat is the origin of the idiom "ugly ducking" and when to use it?
The phrase "Ugly duckling" comes from a classic children's story by Hans Christian Andersen called "The Ugly Duckling," in which a young bird grows into a beautiful swan. The idiom is often used to describe situations where someone or something undergoes a remarkable positive change.
Example
As a child, Jane was awkward and shy, but in her teenage years she blossomed into a beautiful young woman - a true " ugly duckling " story.
The small, struggling startup was once dismissed as an " ugly duckling ", but after securing major funding and hiring top talent it's now seen as a rising star in the industry.
