ugly

Everyday

1. Ugly means not nice to look at. tree →
2. Ugly can describe something nasty, unpleasant or violent, like an ugly fight or an ugly mood. tree →
3. Ugly can describe something that looks dangerous, like an ugly cut or ugly storm clouds. tree →

In the lessons

In stories, «The Ugly Duckling» teaches that looks can change and do not show who someone really is. In kindness and anti-bullying lessons, calling someone ugly is hurtful and unkind. In everyday life, «things turned ugly» means a situation became nasty. Phrases: «turn ugly», «ugly duckling», «ugly mood», «an ugly cut».

Examples

• The ugly duckling grew into a beautiful swan. tree →
• That old building is really ugly. tree →
• Calling people ugly is unkind. tree →
• The argument turned ugly. tree →
• He had an ugly cut on his knee. tree →
• The sky looked ugly before the storm. tree →
• The troll was the ugliest creature in the forest. tree →
• She wore an ugly jumper for fun. tree →
• "What an ugly creature he is!" tree →

Note

Comparative: uglier, ugliest (y changes to i). Ugly is a strong word; to be kinder people say «not very nice-looking». In stories, an ugly character is not always bad: the lesson is not to judge by looks.