English-grammar-lessons.co.uk

menu

Rough around the Edges

What Does "Rough around the Edges" Mean?

homeidiomsRough around the Edges
"Rough around the edges" is an English idiom. It means "not fully polished, refined, or socially adept; having aspects of one's personality or appearance that are unrefined or less conventional."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "rough around the edges" used in a sentence:
  • He may be a bit rough around the edges, but his heart is in the right place, and he's always there to help when needed.
  • The old farmhouse was charmingly rough around the edges, with its peeling paint and creaky floors.
  • Her unconventional style and outspoken nature made her appear rough around the edges to some, but she was genuine and kind-hearted.
meaning for rough around the edges

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Rough around the Edges" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

A Quick Test

You now know what "rough around the edges" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
gold cup
Gold

gold cup
Silver

gold cup
Bronze

  • This test has questions.
  • A correct answer is worth 5 points.
  • You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
  • Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
  • Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
  • 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System

Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Help Us To Improve English Grammar Lessons
  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.
Do you know your English idioms? idioms test

Take Our Test.

search icon

Search our idioms database. (We have 10,000+ idioms!)