Ugly Duckling
Future swan, initially
An ugly duckling is someone or something initially dismissed as unattractive or unpromising that later develops into something beautiful or successful.
From Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale about a drab young bird that matures into a swan: She was the ugly duckling of the family until she grew into her looks.
The term implies hidden potential waiting to emerge.
- swanLarge graceful waterbird
- swan songFinal work or performance
- redemption arcNarrative journey toward atonement
- eggReproductive cell in shell
- caterpillarMoth or butterfly young
water · chrysalis · Cinderella · diamond in the rough · hidden potential · late bloomer · moral lesson · feathers · Hans Christian Andersen · self-esteem · underdog · self-discovery · true self · phoenix · wing · misjudged · rising star · coming of age
- Fairy Tale CharactersCinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, Goldilocks, Sleeping Beauty
- Fable Charactersfox, tortoise, hare, ant, grasshopper
- folk talesfable, fairy tale, folktale, folk tale, folktales
Ugly Ducklinggolden child
Family's most favored member
natural beauty · child prodigy · fallen star · has-been · washed-up
Ugly Ducklingoverhyped
Promoted beyond merit
flash in the pan · paper tiger · emperor's new clothes · hollow promise · bubble
Ugly Ducklinggolden boy
Favored person destined for success
golden girl · favorite son · teacher's pet · belle of the ball · prom queen
duck, ugly, ducks, duckling, ugliness, ducklings, ugliest, gosling, uglier