an 'ugly duckling' that has become a beautiful swan [=an ugly/unsuccessful person or thing that has become beautiful/successful]
('informal') That dog of yours is '(as) ugly as sin'. [=very ugly]
The house is an 'ugly duckling', but it has a lot of potential.
(..) - Yeah, yeah. - floor? floor. - Yeah, floor. What floor you at? - Oh.. Right. - two little kids? Ugly wife. What you do, bro? What is.. What you mean, what I do? For work, what you do? I'm stock brooker. A stock brooker? (..)2013 The Wolf of Wall Street
(..) In blood. - No, I don't want blooded, sir. - No. - No you don't. Ya. - I in for a long run, you know? - Implusion are ugly. - Ya. Pop off to the bathroom, work on that anytime you can. And when you get really good at it. You'll be fucking stroking it, (..)2013 The Wolf of Wall Street