ugly duckling noun

1. a person or thing that at first does not seem attractive or likely to succeed but that later becomes successful or much admiredTopics
   Word OriginFrom the title of a story by Hans Christian Andersen, in which a young swan thinks it is an ugly young duck until it grows up into a beautiful adult swan.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲

ugly duckling
an ugly or plain child (who grows up to be pretty/attractive)
The girl was an ugly duckling when she was a child but now she is quite beautiful.

She was an ugly duckling when she was a child but now she is very beautiful.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

ugly duckling
n. An ugly or plain child who grows up to be pretty and attractive.
Mary was the ugly duckling in her family, until she grew up.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲