Etymology Journal · A
A little rough around the edges
Meaning
- This describes someone who is unpolished or lacks social grace. It implies the person is generally good but lacks the refinement expected in polite society.
Affectionate, forgiving
Used in a sentence
- I know Uncle Bob is a little rough around the edges, but he has the biggest heart in the family.
- The new hire is a little rough around the edges, but he is a fast learner.
- She is a little rough around the edges, but she is the most honest person I know.
The backstory
This is a woodworking metaphor. Just as a board that has not been sanded will have jagged, splintery borders, a person without social conditioning might have sharp personality traits.
Heard in
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