ugly duckling

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

• enPR: ŭg′lē dŭk′lĭng
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈʌɡ.liː ˌdʌk.lɪŋ/
• (General American, Canada, Scotland) IPA^(key): /ˈʌɡ.li ˌdʌk.lɪŋ/
• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈɐɡ.liː ˌdɐk.lɪŋ/

  Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• (New Zealand) IPA^(key): /ˈɐɡ.liː ˌdɐk.ləŋ/
• (India) IPA^(key): /ˈəɡ.liː ˌɖək.lɪŋ/
• Hyphenation: ug‧ly duck‧ling

ugly duckling (plural ugly ducklings)

1. (idiomatic) (The addition of quotations indicative of this usage is being sought:) A young person who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature.
   • 2019 December 4, Andy Coward, “Derby's crowning achievement”, in Rail, page 57:

     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.

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see ugly,‎ duckling.

• “ugly duckling”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.