Definition

Noun: 1. A person or thing that appears unattractive, unpromising, or awkward at first but later develops into something beautiful, successful, or admirable. This term originates from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale about a cygnet (baby swan) mistaken for an ugly duckling among ducklings, which later matures into a graceful swan.

Usage

The term is used to describe a transformation from an initial state of perceived inferiority to a state of recognized beauty, talent, or worth. * It is commonly applied to people, especially during childhood or adolescence, who later blossom. * It can also be applied to projects, ideas, or places that initially seem flawed but later prove to be excellent.

Examples

• Noun:
  • She was the ugly duckling of her family in her teens, but she became a stunning model.
  • The startup was considered the ugly duckling of the tech industry, but it's now a major success story.
  • That neglected neighborhood was the city's ugly duckling, but after renovation, it's the most desirable area.

Advanced Usage

• "an ugly duckling story": A narrative describing a transformation from humble or unpromising beginnings to success or beauty.
  • His rise from a struggling actor to a Hollywood star is a classic ugly duckling story.

Variants and Related Words

• Ugly duckling syndrome (noun phrase): A colloquial term for the psychological impact or personal narrative of having undergone such a transformation.
  • Even after becoming successful, he still suffers from a bit of ugly duckling syndrome.

Synonyms

• Late bloomer: A person who matures, develops skills, or becomes successful later than usual.
• Diamond in the rough: A person or thing with good qualities but lacking polish or refinement.

Antonyms

• Early bloomer
• Child prodigy

Related Idioms

• To blossom/flower into: To develop into something successful or beautiful.
  • The shy intern blossomed into a confident leader.
• To come into one's own: To reach a state of maturity, success, or recognition.
  • After years of hard work, she finally came into her own as an artist.

Noun

1. an ugly or unpromising child who grows into a beautiful or worthy person