diamond in the rough

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diamond in the rough (plural diamonds in the rough)

1. An uncut diamond.
   • 1922, Arthur J. Rees, chapter XXVIII, in The Moon Rock‎:

     They all wanted money, and they all wanted to get away from that God-forsaken hole. Diamonds they were after? Well, he could take them to a place at the other end of the world where there were enough diamonds in the rough to make them all rich for life.

   • 2009, Cindy Lasiter, Diamonds in the Rough, Xulon Press, →ISBN, page xi:

     Often the inclusions can be cut out of a diamond in the rough. After seeing what shape and size best suits the rough diamond, the craftsman will begin to make his cuts.

2. (figurative) A person whose goodness or other positive qualities are hidden by a harsh or unremarkable surface appearance.

   Synonym: rough diamond

   The auto mechanic is a diamond in the rough, tough-talking, but honest, even generous.

   • 1848, Anne Brontë, chapter XXV, in The Tenant of Wildfell Hall‎:

     You must tell me, if you can, that Mr. Hattersley is better than he seems—that he is upright, honourable, and open-hearted—in fact, a perfect diamond in the rough.