ugly duckling Hear it!

ugly duckling definition

ugly duckling

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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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