Sometimes people describe things as ugly, but they don’t just say “ugly.” They use idioms, special phrases that give a clearer picture. Idioms are fun and creative ways to talk about how something looks or feels, even if it’s not nice to look at.
In this article, you’ll learn idioms people use to describe something unattractive, messy, or unpleasant. These idioms don’t always mean just “ugly”; some show strong feelings, surprise, or even humor. Let’s explore 30 idioms that help describe ugliness in creative ways.
Idioms for Ugly
1. As ugly as sin
Meaning: Very unattractive or unpleasant to look at.
Samples: That old chair is as ugly as sin. / The drawing turned out as ugly as sin.
To Put it Another Way: Really, really ugly. / Not nice to look at.
2. Not a pretty picture
Meaning: An unpleasant or messy situation or look.
Samples: The kitchen after the party was not a pretty picture. / His muddy shoes made the room not a pretty picture.
To Put it Another Way: Messy or bad. / Didn’t look good.
3. Make a face
Meaning: Show dislike by changing your expression.
Samples: She made a face at the ugly sweater. / He made a face when he saw the bug.
To Put it Another Way: Looked disgusted. / Didn’t like how it looked.
4. Rough around the edges
Meaning: Not neat or polished.
Samples: The old house was rough around the edges. / His art was good but rough around the edges.
To Put it Another Way: A little messy. / Not very neat.
5. A face only a mother could love
Meaning: Very unattractive in a funny way.
Samples: That dog has a face only a mother could love. / His puppet had a face only a mother could love.
To Put it Another Way: So odd-looking it’s funny. / Really not cute.
6. Ugly duckling
Meaning: Someone or something that looks bad at first but later becomes beautiful.
Samples: The flower garden started as an ugly duckling. / He was an ugly duckling who grew into a great artist.
To Put it Another Way: Looks bad at first but improves. / Changes for the better.
7. Eyesore
Meaning: Something very unpleasant to look at.
Samples: That broken sign is an eyesore. / The trash in the park was an eyesore.
To Put it Another Way: Very ugly thing. / Looks bad in its place.
8. Seen better days
Meaning: Old, worn-out, and not looking good.
Samples: My backpack has seen better days. / That car has really seen better days.
To Put it Another Way: Looks old and beat up. / Used to look nicer.
9. Beauty is only skin deep
Meaning: A person may look nice but not be kind or good inside.
Samples: She looks nice, but beauty is only skin deep. / He’s not kind beauty is only skin deep.
To Put it Another Way: Looks don’t show what someone’s really like. / Being pretty doesn’t mean being nice.
10. Hit every branch on the ugly tree
Meaning: Very unattractive in a silly or playful way.
Samples: That haircut looks like it hit every branch on the ugly tree. / His costume hit every branch on the ugly tree.
To Put it Another Way: Looks very silly or bad. / Not flattering at all.
11. Funny-looking
Meaning: Strange or weird-looking in a silly way.
Samples: That dog is kind of funny-looking. / The bug was big and funny-looking.
To Put it Another Way: Looks odd. / Strange in appearance.
12. A mess
Meaning: Looks very disorganized or bad.
Samples: His hair was a mess after recess. / The table was a mess after lunch.
To Put it Another Way: Looked really untidy. / Not neat at all.
13. Scare the paint off the walls
Meaning: Extremely scary or ugly.
Samples: That mask could scare the paint off the walls! / His costume might scare the paint off the walls.
To Put it Another Way: Very frightening or unpleasant. / Super ugly or creepy.
14. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Meaning: What looks good to one person may not to another.
Samples: I think that painting is strange, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. / She loves that dress, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
To Put it Another Way: Everyone has their own idea of what looks nice.
15. Plain as day
Meaning: Very simple or ordinary-looking.
Samples: Her drawing was plain as day. / That shirt is plain as day.
To Put it Another Way: Not fancy. / Very simple.
16. As plain as an old shoe
Meaning: Very plain or unattractive.
Samples: That couch is as plain as an old shoe. / His outfit is as plain as an old shoe.
To Put it Another Way: Very dull-looking. / Not stylish.
17. Like something the cat dragged in
Meaning: Looks messy or beat-up.
Samples: He came in looking like something the cat dragged in. / Her shoes look like something the cat dragged in.
To Put it Another Way: Looks rough. / Worn out.
18. A bad hair day
Meaning: A day when nothing looks right, especially hair.
Samples: I’m having a bad hair day. / Her picture shows a serious bad hair day.
To Put it Another Way: Not looking your best. / Feeling messy.
19. No oil painting
Meaning: Not very good-looking (in a joking way).
Samples: He’s no oil painting, but he’s really nice. / That car is no oil painting.
To Put it Another Way: Not pretty. / Looks a bit rough.
20. Past its prime
Meaning: Something that used to look better.
Samples: That toy is past its prime. / Her old coat is past its prime.
To Put it Another Way: Looks old and worn. / Not at its best anymore.
21. Blunt as a tree stump
Meaning: Unattractive and also not clever.
Samples: He’s as blunt as a tree stump, not just in words but in looks. / That look is blunt as a tree stump.
To Put it Another Way: Plain and not sharp. / Unpleasant and awkward.
22. Hard on the eyes
Meaning: Unpleasant or tough to look at.
Samples: That outfit is hard on the eyes. / This coloring is hard on the eyes.
To Put it Another Way: Not easy or nice to see.
23. Looks like a train wreck
Meaning: Very messy or ugly in a chaotic way.
Samples: His locker looks like a train wreck. / That cake turned out like a train wreck.
To Put it Another Way: Totally messy. / A disaster to look at.
24. Not much to look at
Meaning: Not very attractive.
Samples: That snack stand is not much to look at. / He’s not much to look at, but he’s funny.
To Put it Another Way: Doesn’t look great. / Plain or boring.
25. Beat with the ugly stick
Meaning: Very unattractive (often used jokingly).
Samples: That sweater looks like it was beat with the ugly stick. / He jokes that he was beat with the ugly stick.
To Put it Another Way: Looks pretty bad. / Not a compliment.
26. Clashing colors
Meaning: Colors that don’t go well together.
Samples: That outfit has clashing colors. / The painting is full of clashing colors.
To Put it Another Way: The colors don’t match. / Looks off.
27. As awkward as a cactus
Meaning: Very uncomfortable-looking or strange.
Samples: That haircut is as awkward as a cactus. / His smile was as awkward as a cactus.
To Put it Another Way: Not smooth or natural. / Feels weird.
28. The opposite of eye candy
Meaning: Not nice to look at.
Samples: That sign is the opposite of eye candy. / His outfit is the opposite of eye candy.
To Put it Another Way: Not pleasing to see. / A bit rough on the eyes.
29. Looks like a bag of hammers
Meaning: Looks very unattractive in a silly way.
Samples: His sculpture looked like a bag of hammers. / That cake looked like a bag of hammers.
To Put it Another Way: Looks silly and messy. / A little funny-looking.
30. As welcome as weeds in a garden
Meaning: Something ugly or unwanted.
Samples: That broken sign is as welcome as weeds in a garden. / The old rug was as welcome as weeds.
To Put it Another Way: Looks bad and doesn’t belong.
Find the Topics: Idioms for Ugly
Story Title: “The Art Show Mix-Up”
Everyone was excited for the school art show. Mia painted a sunset, and Jake made a clay dog. But when the curtain rose, Jake gasped. His sculpture had melted a little. “It looks like a train wreck!” he whispered.
Next to it was a painting with clashing colors and strange shapes. “This is no oil painting,” Mia muttered. A few kids made a face when they saw it.
Mrs. Taylor smiled and said, “Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Jake laughed and said, “Well, mine hit every branch on the ugly tree.”
Later, Ava pointed to her project and said, “It’s not much to look at, but it means a lot to me.” Mrs. Taylor nodded. “Even the ugly duckling turned into something great.”
“Some of these projects,” Mia said, “look like something the cat dragged in!” Everyone laughed.
Your Task:
Underline or list all 8 idioms for ugly used in the story.
Answer Key
- Like a train wreck
- Clashing colors
- No oil painting
- Made a face
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
- Hit every branch on the ugly tree
- Not much to look at
- Ugly duckling
- Something the cat dragged in
Conclusion
Idioms for ugly are often funny or creative ways to talk about things that don’t look great. Whether you say “like a train wreck” or “not much to look at,” these phrases help explain what you see in a more interesting way.
Just remember, what one person thinks is ugly, another might see as special. Using idioms makes talking about appearance more fun, but it’s always good to be kind too. Try these idioms when describing things just use them wisely!
