ugly duckling noun
plural ugly ducklings
plural ugly ducklings
Learner's definition of UGLY DUCKLING
[count]
: a person or thing that is not attractive or successful but that is likely to become attractive or successful in the future丑小鸭（指人或事物开始受奚落，但未来很可能成功） -
The house is an ugly duckling, but it has a lot of potential.那栋房子现在是个丑小鸭，但未来升值潜力很大。
-
an ugly duckling that has become a beautiful swan [=an ugly/unsuccessful person or thing that has become beautiful/successful]变成一只美丽天鹅的丑小鸭。