diamond in rough
Unrefined but valuable
A diamond in the rough is someone or something with excellent qualities that aren't immediately apparent—potential obscured by an unpolished exterior.
The phrase comes from uncut diamonds, which look like ordinary stones before being cut and polished: The scout saw a diamond in the rough in the young pitcher.
Sometimes shortened to a rough diamond, especially in British English.
- unpolishedLacking finish or refinement
- rawIn original state
- raw talentInnate ability before training
- potentialLatent capacity for development
- untapped potentialAbilities not yet utilized
hidden · hidden gem · gem · talent · late bloomer · rising star · uncut · promising · overlooked · under the radar · underdog · unrefined · treasure · needle in haystack · discovery · untapped · crude · coarse
- listing lingofixer-upper, handyman special, starter home, move-in ready, priced to sell
- rising starsrising star, up-and-comer, newcomer, breakout star, prospect
- money idiomsarm and a leg, break the bank, penny pincher, cheapskate, tightwad
- hidden potentialhidden talent, raw talent, undiscovered talent
diamond in roughfinished product
Completed manufactured good
well-groomed · smooth operator · sophisticate · trained professional · perfected
diamond in roughwolf in sheep's clothing
Concealed threat appearing innocent
flash in the pan · emperor's new clothes · fool's gold · hollow man · empty suit
diamond in roughlost cause
Endeavor certain to fail
hopeless case · mediocrity · dead end · write-off · no-hoper
diamond, rough, diamonds, diamondlike, roughly, rougher, roughest, roughness, roughen