Definition

1. Noun:
   • A fictional character: A young girl in a European fairy tale who is mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters but is ultimately rescued by a fairy godmother and marries a handsome prince.
   • A person whose talents or merits go unrecognized for a time before achieving sudden success: Used to describe someone, especially a woman, who is overlooked or undervalued but later gains success or recognition.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Fictional Character):

  • The story of Cinderella is known worldwide.
  • She dressed as Cinderella for the costume party.

• Noun (Metaphorical Use):

  • For years, the department was the Cinderella of the company, until its project became a huge success.
  • The athlete was a Cinderella story, going from an unknown to an Olympic champion.

Advanced Usage

• "Cinderella story": A narrative in which a person or team achieves great success against the odds after a period of obscurity.

  • The underdog team's victory was a true Cinderella story.

• "Cinderella service/industry": Refers to a sector or service that is essential but undervalued and underfunded.

  • Public transport is often seen as the Cinderella service of city infrastructure.

Variants and Related Words

• Cinderellian (adj, rare): Resembling or characteristic of Cinderella.
  • Her rise to fame had a Cinderellian quality.

Synonyms

• Rags-to-riches story: A narrative of moving from poverty to wealth.
• Underdog: A competitor thought to have little chance of winning.
• Dark horse: A little-known person or thing that emerges to prominence.

Idioms and Phrases

• "A Cinderella transformation": A dramatic and positive change in appearance or fortune.
  • The old theater underwent a Cinderella transformation and is now the city's premier venue.

Noun

1. a fictional young girl who is saved from her stepmother and stepsisters by her fairy godmother and a handsome prince
2. a woman whose merits were not been recognized but who then achieves sudden success and recognition