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Meaning of ugly duckling | Babel Free

Noun CEFR B2
/ˈʌɡ.liː ˌdʌk.lɪŋ/

Definitions

  1. A young person who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature.
    idiomatic
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see ugly, duckling.

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

CEFR level

B2
Upper Intermediate
This word is part of the CEFR B2 vocabulary — upper intermediate level.

See also

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