ugly duckling

== English == === Etymology === Calque of Danish grim ælling. From the fairy tale of a duckling, considered ugly, that matures into a magnificent swan. === Pronunciation === enPR: ŭg′lē dŭk′lĭng (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈʌɡ.liː ˌdʌk.lɪŋ/ (General American, Canada, Scotland) IPA(key): /ˈʌɡ.li ˌdʌk.lɪŋ/ (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈɐɡ.liː ˌdɐk.lɪŋ/ (New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈɐɡ.liː ˌdɐk.ləŋ/ (India) IPA(key): /ˈəɡ.liː ˌɖək.lɪŋ/ Hyphenation: ug‧ly duck‧ling === Noun === ugly duckling (plural ugly ducklings) (idiomatic) (The addition of quotations indicative of this usage is being sought:) A young person who is ugly, but who is expected to become beautiful or handsome as they mature. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see ugly,‎ duckling. ==== Translations ==== === Further reading === “ugly duckling”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.