Diamond in the rough is an idiom that refers to something of great value that, at first sight, appears to be unremarkable. In British English, it is more common to hear the idiom “rough diamond.”
The idiom comes from the world of diamonds, where the stones, as they are found in their natural state, don’t have the spectacular beauty of the gems we are familiar with from jewelry.
Diamond in the rough examples
Harry was a real diamond in the rough; his friends knew that behind his rough exterior, he was a faithful and loyal friend.Stephanie was one of the best HR executives around, with a canny knack of spotting diamonds in the rough in the deluge of job applicants.
Her voice was like a diamond in the rough; it possessed a natural beauty that would only get better with careful work and training.
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Using diamond in the rough
The idiom diamond in the rough (or “rough diamond” in British English) is used to indicate something that has great potential that has yet to be fully shown. At times it carries the sense of someone who has positive essential characteristics but who presents in a slightly “rough” way.
The phrase comes from the world of gemstones, where uncut (“rough”) diamonds have to be skillfully cut by jewelers to reveal their full potential beauty.
Diamond in the rough examples
Joe was an intriguing blend of unrefined manners and a genuine caring heart; he was a real diamond in the rough.There was something about Janis’s playing that made the A&R spotter realize that she was a diamond in the rough with tremendous potential.
Finding the diamond in the rough was always the challenge for soccer scouts visiting academies every weekend.
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