Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Word Origins 7.
The word origin today is ugly duckling.
Okay.
Let's take a look at the note here.
An ugly duckling is someone, especially a female.
Who while young seemed quite plain.
Not so attractive at all.
Or unattractive.
But later develops and blossoms and turns out to be quite beautiful.
Okay.
Let's continue.
The origin of this noun phrase is believed to come from a fairy tale by Hans Christian
Anderson.
Yeah from Denmark.
Of the same name, " The Ugly Duckling.
" So his fairy name was "The Ugly Duckling.
And this became a noun phrase later.
There doesn't seem to be any mention of this term before the book was published in 1843.
So the term didn't seem to exist before that time.
But it did become quite popular later.
In the original story the baby duckling , remember that's what a duckling means a baby duck.
The baby duckling is shunned by others.
Well . You know they avoid him.
They keep away from him.
They thought he was too ugly so they stayed away from him.
By others, but by the end of the story has grown into a beautiful swan.
All right.
And these are example of how we would use it, Her daughter used to an ugly duckling
as a child, but blossomed into an attractive young woman.
So that is typically the way we hear ugly duckling used.
Or example number 2.
There are many famous actresses who claim that they used to be an ugly duckling when
they were younger.
Such as Nicole Kidman.
Remember the actress that used to be married to Tom Cruse.
Jennifer Aniston .You know the famous actress from the TV show Friends years ago.
Victoria Beckham . you know , she used to be one of the Spice Girls. and then you know
she married the soccer player Beckham as well.
Okay.
Jessica Alba, you know as another very pretty girl.
You might know her from the Fantastic Four movies.
She played the Invisible Girl in the first series of Fantastic Four movies, etc.
Anyway, I hope you got it.
I hope it was clear.
I hope it was enjoyable.
Thank you for your time.
Bye-bye.