A diamond in the rough Meaning in English
expression
uh DAI-mund in thuh RUHF
uh DAI-uh-mund in thuh RUFF
Definition
Someone or something with great potential or value, but who needs development, refinement, or improvement.
Usage & Nuances
This idiom is often used to compliment people with hidden or undeveloped talent. It's informal and positive, commonly used in workplaces or when talking about students, athletes, or employees.
Spanish: una joya en bruto - un diamante en brutoPortuguese (BR): um diamante brutoPortuguese (PT): um diamante em brutoChinese (Simplified): 璞玉 - 尚未雕琢的才俊Chinese (Traditional): 璞玉 - 尚未雕琢的人才Hindi: अनगढ़ हीराArabic: جوهرة غير مصقولة - ماسة في الخامBengali: খসড়া হীরেRussian: неогранённый алмаз - бриллиант в сыром видеJapanese: 原石のダイヤモンドVietnamese: viên kim cương chưa được mài giũaKorean: 미완성 보석 - 다듬어지지 않은 보석Turkish: ham elmas - kabaca şekillendirilmiş değerli biri/şeyUrdu: کچا ہیرہIndonesian: berlian yang belum diasah
Example Sentences
Everyone thinks Tom is a diamond in the rough at school.
basic
She may be shy, but she's a diamond in the rough.
basic
This old house is a diamond in the rough.
basic
Give him a little training—he's a diamond in the rough who just needs to shine.
natural
We knew Sarah was a diamond in the rough when she joined the team—now she's our star player.
natural
That little café looks plain, but trust me, it's a diamond in the rough.
natural