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Ugly duckling
01
an unattractive or unsuccessful person or thing that later turns attractive or successful
Idiom
Informal
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Human
Composition
Compound
Countable
Plural form
ugly ducklings
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.
Examples
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.
