beauty is in the eye of the beholder

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Meaning

• different people have different ideas and views about what is beautiful
• not all people have the same opinions as to what is attractive or beautiful
• the perception of beauty is subjective
• it is not possible to judge beauty objectively
• what one person finds beautiful may not appeal to another

Example Sentences

1. I don't see why he finds her attractive, I think she is downright ugly; but, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as they say.
2. Jane was gushing about how handsome her partner looked in his brand new tuxedo, but I thought he was looking pretty ordinary. Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
3. Even the ugliest of people will have someone who finds them attractive, for beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as goes the saying.
4. I can't believe he finally settled for that ugly little car. And he loves it too! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
5. Well, she's an ordinary looking girl, but if finds her attractive, good for him. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Origin
The meaning that this phrase conveys has been used since the 3rd century BC in Greek. Thereafter, it has been used in various other forms. In the current form, it was first used in 1878 by Margaret Wolfe Hungerford in her book “Molly Bawn”.