ugly sisters
Cruel vain siblings
The ugly sisters are the stepsisters in the Cinderella fairy tale—vain, cruel characters who mistreat the heroine and fail to fit the glass slipper.
The phrase extends to anyone playing a similar role: unattractive, mean-spirited figures overshadowed by someone more deserving.
In British pantomime tradition, the ugly sisters are comedic roles typically played by men in drag.
- stepsistersSiblings by remarriage
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- jealousResentful of others' advantages
- ballSpherical plaything or gala
- ball gownFormal full-length dress
wicked stepsisters · gown · pantomime · fairy tale · rags to riches · stepmother · vain · cruel · slipper · glass · stroke of midnight · prince · glass slipper · midnight · pumpkin · envious · spiteful · dame
- pantomimedame, pantomime dame, pantomime horse, principal boy, behind you
- Pantomime Charactersdame, principal boy, villain, fairy godmother, wicked queen
ugly sistersCinderella
Rags-to-riches heroine
fairy godmother · good fairy · Snow White · gentle soul · humble servant
ugly sistershandsome prince
Attractive male heir
fair maiden · beauty · Snow White · Sleeping Beauty · inner beauty
ugly sistersCinderella
Rags-to-riches heroine
heroine · protagonist · fairy godmother · rescuer · good character
ugly, sister, uglier, ugliest, ugliness, uglify, sisters, sisterly, sisterhood