Dictionary

ugly duckling en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈʌɡ.liː ˌdʌk.lɪŋ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɐɡ.liː ˌdɐk.ləŋ/ (New-Zealand)
• /ˈɐɡ.liː ˌdɐk.lɪŋ/ (Australia)
• (Australia) audio
• ŭg′lē dŭk′lĭng
• /ˈʌɡ.li ˌdʌk.lɪŋ/ (Canada, General-American, Scotland)

Etymology

Calque of Danish grim ælling. From the fairy tale of a duckling, considered ugly, that matures into a magnificent swan.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) A young person who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature.
   • The ugly duckling has become a very fine swan, and Rachel Sprigg and her team have worked hard to ensure that Derby is a worthy winner of that coveted National Rail Award. They can be proud of their achievements. 2019 December 4, Andy Coward, “Derby's crowning achievement”, in Rail, page 57:
2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see ugly, duckling.

Forms

Translations (40)

pt patinha feia (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · pl brzydkie kaczątko (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · et inetu pardipoeg (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · cs ošklivé káčátko (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · es patita fea (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · ja みにくいアヒルの子 (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · is Ijóti andarunginn (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · be бры́дкае качаня́ (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · cmn 醜小鴨 /丑小鸭 (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · sv ful ankunge (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · ro rățușca cea urâtă (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · fr vilain petit canard (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · ca aneguet lleig (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · bg гро́зно пате́нце (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · da grim ælling (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · mk грдо пајче (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · fi ruma ankanpoikanen (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · de hässliches Entlein (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · it brutta anatrocolla (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · uk гидке́ каченя́ (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · el ασχημόπαπο (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · ca anegueta lletja (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · ko 미운 오리 새끼 (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · it brutto anatroccolo (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · id itik buruk rupa (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · no stygg andunge (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · fo mishátti dunnuungin (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · es patito feo (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · eo malbela anasido (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · ru га́дкий утёнок (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · ar بَطَّة قَبِيحَة (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · eo malbelaj anasidoj (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · am አስቀያሚ ሲንድሬላ (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · sl grdi raček (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · fo ljóti dunnuungin (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · bg гро́зно па́тенце (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · nl lelijk eendje (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · pt patinho feio (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · sk škaredé kačiatko (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature) · tr çirkin ördek yavrusu (one who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature)