diamond in the rough

Slang Dictionary

diamond in the rough definition


  1. n.
    a person who is wonderful despite a rough exterior; a person with great potential. : He's a diamond in the rough—a little hard to take at times, but okay mostly.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

diamond in the rough

Also, a rough diamond. A person of exceptional character or potential but lacking polish and refinement. For example, Jack is intelligent and trustworthy but lacks mannershe's a diamond in the rough. [Early 1600s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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