ugly duckling Hear it!

ugly duckling Definition

ugly duckling

noun

a very plain child or unpromising thing that in time becomes or could become beautiful, admirable, important, etc.

Etymology: from a story by Hans Christian Andersen about a supposed ugly duckling that turns out to be a swan

ugly duckling Usage Examples

Preposition: into

  • swan: And the transformation of Fran's ugly duckling into the beautiful swan is convincing.

Browse dictionary entries near ugly duckling

  1. ‹ ugly
  2. ‹ ugliness
  3. ‹ uglify
  4. ‹ Ugli fruit
  5. ‹ ugh
  6. ‹ Ugaritic
  7. ‹ Ugarit
  8. ‹ Uganda
  9. ‹ ufology
  10. ‹ UFO
  1. Ugrian ›
  2. Ugric ›
  3. UGS ›
  4. uh ›
  5. uh-huh ›
  6. uh-oh ›
  7. uh-uh ›
  8. UHF ›
  9. uhlan ›
  10. Uhland ›