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Meaning & use

diamond in the rough

phrase·Advancedfigurative

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UK/ˌdaɪəmənd ɪn ðə ˈrʌf/
US/ˌdaɪmənd ɪn ðə ˈrʌf/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiom

    A person or thing with great talent or value who has not yet been developed or shown polish.

    Grammar: A fixed expression used as a noun phrase: he is a diamond in the rough.

    Patterns

    • be a diamond in the rough
    • find a diamond in the rough

    The coach saw a diamond in the rough in the shy young goalkeeper.

    This little restaurant is a real diamond in the rough.

    The editor thought the manuscript was a diamond in the rough.

  2. phraseidiom

    Someone with good qualities under a rough or unrefined outer manner.

    Grammar: Used about people whose manners are rough but whose character is good.

    Patterns

    • a diamond in the rough

    Grandpa swears a lot, but he is a diamond in the rough.

    Underneath his gruff manner, the foreman is a diamond in the rough.

    Many people found the old sailor to be a diamond in the rough.

Common combinations

a real diamond in the rough
The new employee turned out to be a real diamond in the rough.
discover a diamond in the rough
Scouts hope to discover a diamond in the rough.
a bit of a diamond in the rough
He is a bit of a diamond in the rough.
find a diamond in the rough
Collectors love to find a diamond in the rough at a flea market.

Synonyms and how they differ

hidden gem
Hidden gem is usually used for places or things, whereas diamond in the rough is often about people with potential.
rough diamond
Rough diamond is the British form and has the same meaning.
late bloomer
Late bloomer describes someone who develops slowly, while diamond in the rough stresses unpolished quality.
sleeper
Sleeper is an unexpected success, and diamond in the rough points to qualities needing refinement.

Opposites

dudlost cause

Word family

diamond noun
a hard valuable gem
rough adjective
not smooth or refined
uncut adjective
not yet shaped or refined
polish verb
to improve or refine

Commonly confused: diamond in the rough or rough diamond?

diamond in the rough vs rough diamond

Rough diamond is the usual British version of the same idiom.

Practice

The boy had little training, but the coach called him a diamond in the rough. What did the coach mean?

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