rough diamond

rough diamond

Someone or something that is unrefined but has many exceptional aspects or underlying potential. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. The young actor was a rough diamond. With some training, she'd become a superstar.
See also: diamond, rough
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a rough diamond

mainly BRITISH or

a diamond in the rough

AMERICAN
1. If you call someone, especially a man a rough diamond, you admire their good qualities, even though they are not very polite or well-educated. Note: A rough diamond is a diamond that has not yet been cut and polished. Marden was the rough diamond of the three, feared for his ruthlessness but respected for his First World War Military Cross. I liked Neil Murphy, who is somewhat of a diamond in the rough.
2. If you call someone or something a rough diamond, you mean that they have talent or good qualities which are hidden or not well developed and could be developed more. Note: A rough diamond is a diamond that has not yet been cut and polished. British first novels are more likely to be rough diamonds, with flashes of inspiration in an imperfect whole. When I heard this lady sing, I ran to the theater, and I said, `Chick, I found myself a diamond in the rough.'
See also: diamond, rough
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a rough diamond

a person who has genuinely fine qualities but uncouth manners. informal
Literally, a rough diamond is a diamond before it has been cut and polished. A North American variant of this expression is a diamond in the rough .
See also: diamond, rough
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

a ˌrough ˈdiamond

(British English) (American English a ˌdiamond in the ˈrough) a person who has many good qualities even though they do not seem to be very polite, educated, etc: Don’t be put off by your first impressions — he’s something of a rough diamond.
A rough diamond is a diamond that has not yet been cut or polished.
See also: diamond, rough
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

diamond in the rough, a

An individual of intrinsic merit but uncultivated manners. The simile comes from mining, where the uncut, unpolished diamond resembles a hunk of worthless rock but may, after processing, be both beautiful and very valuable. John Fletcher’s 1624 play, AWife for a Month, has it, “She is very honest, and will be hard to cut as a rough diamond” (4.2).
See also: diamond
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • a rough diamond
  • rough as bags
  • the glassy
  • sublime
  • from the ridiculous to the sublime
  • ridiculous
  • ridiculous to the sublime, from the
  • humdinger
  • from the sublime to the ridiculous
References in periodicals archive
The diamond mining industry is export oriented and rough diamonds contributed approximately 70% of the country's total exports revenue, valued around US$1.7 billion in the first six months of 2015.
Diamond Mining in Botswana to 2020 - New Market Study Published
Prime Minister Narendra Modi who comes from Gujarat where the polishing industry is centred has answered calls to bolster the diamond sector by convincing Russia to sell rough diamonds directly to India.
CHINA CHALLENGES INDIA'S POLISHED DIAMOND THRONE
Positioned in Dubai between producing countries in Africa and cutting centres in South Asia and the Far East, the DDE is expected to realise a dramatic upsurge in the trade of rough diamonds through its exchange.
DMCC and Dubai Diamond Exchange host De Beers delegation
Surat Rough Diamond Sourcing of India signed a deal with Harare to buy diamonds in return for training cutters and polishers in Zimbabwe.
Diamonds: retain global sparkle
"DTC rough diamond prices are now, on average, comparable to June 2008 pre-recession levels," the group said.
Philippines : De Beers Sales Jump To P17.9 Billion
The firm said trading in the rough diamond market was "extraordinarily difficult" in the first three months of the year, but demand price and sales all began to pick up in the second quarter.
De Beers profits plummet
SUNDERLAND chairman Niall Quinn has challenged new manager Steve Bruce to unearth a few more "rough diamonds" as he prepares for a summer spending spree.
BRUCE IS READY TO SPARKLE
It was not until the 15th century rough diamonds began to be turned into sparkling gems.
The rough guide to diamonds; Your Life daily In association with Coventry Fostering Service
The DDE plans to hold rough diamond sales weeks every month, starting from August 24, Steverlynck said.
Dubai's rough diamond trade tops $3 billion
"With anticipated rises in rough diamond prices we would expect overall 2008 sales to be higher."
De Beers
THE BBC has dropped Rough Diamond, the Sunday evening racing drama screened earlier this year, after just one series, writes Graham Green.
ROUGH CUT; Diamond dropped like a stone by BBC after one series
Trade Minister Mari Elka Pengestu has issued a regulation on the imports and exports of rough diamond in compliance with a U.N.
Imports and exports of rough diamond regulated
The group reported that rough diamond sales were strong throughout the year as low interest rates encouraged cutting centres to finance higher levels of stock.
: DIAMONDS ARE STILL A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND
The rough diamond production will increase due to current operations and new projects.
Alrosa (MCX: ALRS)
Underlying EBITDA decreased by 27% to $518 million (30 June 2018: $712 million) due to the challenging midstream trading environment and slowing consumer demand growth, which has resulted in a decrease in the rough diamond price index and realised price, as well as lower margins in the trading business.
De Beers Consolidated Mines (ADRS) - INTERIM FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR 2019 -- 25/7/2019