rough around the edges
Meaning: Lacking polish or refinement, though basically good.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “The band is still rough around the edges, but their songs are great.”
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The image is of an object not yet smoothed or finished. The phrase is used from the 20th century; its first use has not been traced.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Brut de décoffrage — literally: Raw from the formwork
More idioms — Daily Life
- smoke the peace pipe — To make peace after a quarrel.
- seize the day — Make the most of the present moment.
- bow and scrape — To behave in an overly humble or flattering way toward someone powerful.
- jump ship — To abandon a group or cause, often for a rival.
- left on the shelf — To be considered too old to marry; more generally, to be passed over.
- Caesar's wife must be above suspicion — People in prominent positions must avoid even the appearance of wrongdoing.
More English idioms
- give free rein — To give someone complete freedom to act.
- take with a grain of salt — To be skeptical about something; not to take it entirely at face value.
- the game is not worth the candle — The effort or cost is greater than the reward.
- be a third wheel — To be an unwanted extra person with a couple.
- like a bat out of hell — Extremely fast.
- have a seat at the table — To be included in the discussions where decisions are made.
From our proverbs
- He that would be Pope must think of nothing else. — Single-minded devotion to ambition demands sacrificing all other concerns and distraction…
- Possession is nine points of the law, and they say there are but ten. — Physical control of something provides nearly complete legal claim, leaving little room f…
- A little pot is soon hot. — Small things heat quickly, so modest people reach their limit of patience or emotion fast…