ProverbMoralityEnglish origin

A dark man's a jewel in a fair woman's eye.

Meaning: Beauty standards flip based on contrast; what seems ordinary gains value through its rarity or difference in a particular context.

Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.

Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults

Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.

  • Tu as de la répartie You're brilliantly quick-witted — always ready with the perfect comeback.
  • Eres un crack You're brilliant — a total star at what you do.
  • Eres muy majo/a You're a lovely, kind, and genuine person — the nicest way to compliment someone's charac…

Browse all compliments & insults →

Keep exploring

Explore all proverbs →