Ugly-duckling meaning
One that is considered ugly or unpromising at first but has the potential to become beautiful or admirable in maturity.
noun
A very plain child or unpromising thing that in time becomes or could become beautiful, admirable, important, etc.
noun
Origin of ugly-duckling
- After The Ugly Duckling , a story by Hans Christian Andersen
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- From a fairy tale of a duckling, considered ugly, that matures into a magnificent swan.
From Wiktionary