"ugly duckling"的定义和意义

Ugly duckling

名词

丑小鸭, 丑小鸭故事

an unattractive or unsuccessful person or thing that later turns attractive or successful

Idiom

Informal

What 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.

作为一个孩子，简既笨拙又害羞，但在她的青少年时期，她绽放成了一位美丽的年轻女性——一个真正的丑小鸭故事。

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.

这家小而艰难的初创公司曾被称为“丑小鸭”，但在获得重大融资并聘请顶尖人才后，如今已被视为行业中的新星。