rough diamond
Britishnoun
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an unpolished diamond
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an intrinsically trustworthy or good person with uncouth manners or dress
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Everyone knew Jackson was a rough diamond, having played just 1,758 minutes of top-flight football, but he quickly established himself as Chelsea's starting striker.
From BBC • Sep. 17, 2025
Becker signalled he would focus on the mental side of the game and described Rune as “a rough diamond that needs polishing.”
From Washington Times • Oct. 19, 2023
The rough diamond is then cut and polished to your specifications.
From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2023
Two stones cut from the Cullinan Diamond — the largest rough diamond ever found — will feature prominently in the coronation, fueling controversy the royal family would rather avoid.
From Seattle Times • May 5, 2023
"Oh, a rough diamond with a beard to his middle, and a voice like a bull, who did his best to stand on his head in a bucket of champagne."
From Denis Dent A Novel by Hornung, Ernest W.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
