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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

العربية بَطَّة قَبِيحَة
Català aneguet lleig
Čeština ošklivé káčátko
Dansk grim ælling
Deutsch hässliches Entlein hässliches Entlein
Ελληνικά ασχημόπαπο
Español patita fea patito feo
Suomi ruma ankanpoikanen
Français vilain petit canard
Italiano brutta anatrocolla brutto anatroccolo
日本語 みにくいアヒルの子
한국어 미운 오리 새끼
Nederlands lelijk eendje
Polski brzydkie kaczątko
Português patinha feia patinho feio
Русский гадкий утёнок

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 all B2 English words →

See also

ugly finder ugly law ugly man ugly milk-cap ugly sister ugly stick

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