Sometimes, people use funny or strong phrases to talk about the way someone looks. These phrases are called idioms. They are not always nice, and they don’t mean exactly what the words say. For example, someone might say, “He looks like he got hit by a truck.” That doesn’t mean it really happened it just means they think the person looks messy or not good.
This article will show you some idioms that people use to describe someone or something that looks ugly. These sayings are often used in jokes or stories. But it’s important to remember: calling someone ugly can hurt their feelings. So, even if you learn these idioms, it’s always kind to speak nicely to others.
Idioms for Ugly
1. Face only a mother could love
Meaning: Very unattractive.
For Example: His haircut was so bad, he had a face only a mother could love.
Alternatively: That old doll has a face only a mother could love.
2. Hit every branch on the ugly tree
Meaning: Very ugly or messy looking.
For Example: After the costume party, I looked like I hit every branch on the ugly tree.
Alternatively: That drawing hit every branch on the ugly tree it was wild!
3. Looks like a bulldog chewing a wasp
Meaning: Has an unpleasant or strange face.
For Example: His grumpy face looked like a bulldog chewing a wasp.
Alternatively: That angry coach looked like a bulldog chewing a wasp.
4. Fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch
Meaning: Extremely unattractive.
For Example: That old monster mask looked like it fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch.
Alternatively: His Halloween costume fell out of the ugly tree.
5. Not much to look at
Meaning: Not very good-looking.
For Example: The old sofa was comfy but not much to look at.
Alternatively: The cat was sweet but not much to look at.
6. Like something the cat dragged in
Meaning: Looking dirty or messy.
For Example: After playing in the rain, he looked like something the cat dragged in.
Alternatively: She walked in from soccer looking like something the cat dragged in.
7. Easy on the eyes (used sarcastically)
Meaning: Not easy to look at.
For Example: That paint color is easy on the eyes if you’re a zombie!
Alternatively: His wild shirt was really easy on the eyes just kidding!
8. A face like a bag of spanners
Meaning: A rough or odd-looking face.
For Example: That drawing had a face like a bag of spanners.
Alternatively: His monster mask had a face like a bag of spanners.
9. Looks like roadkill
Meaning: Looks very bad or ruined.
For Example: My sandwich looked like roadkill after I dropped it.
Alternatively: Her art project got crushed and looked like roadkill.
10. Beauty challenged
Meaning: A funny or gentle way to say someone is not attractive.
For Example: He called himself beauty challenged after seeing his photo.
Alternatively: That scarecrow is definitely beauty challenged.
11. Like a monkey’s backside
Meaning: Very ugly.
For Example: That sweater looks like a monkey’s backside.
Alternatively: His science project looked like a monkey’s backside.
12. Scary-looking
Meaning: Looks frightening.
For Example: That old clown toy is really scary-looking.
Alternatively: He wore a scary-looking mask on Halloween.
13. Looks like a foot
Meaning: Really unattractive.
For Example: That sandwich looked like a foot.
Alternatively: His hair after gym class looked like a foot.
14. Looks like a mugshot
Meaning: Looks rough or tired.
For Example: She looked like a mugshot after waking up.
Alternatively: His school photo looked like a mugshot.
15. Looks like a melted candle
Meaning: Soft or droopy face.
For Example: That snowman looked like a melted candle.
Alternatively: His clay project looked like a melted candle.
16. Looks like a smashed tomato
Meaning: Red and messy face.
For Example: After running, his face looked like a smashed tomato.
Alternatively: My face looked like a smashed tomato in the sun.
17. Rough around the edges
Meaning: Not neat or polished.
For Example: His craft project was rough around the edges.
Alternatively: The old house is rough around the edges.
18. Looks like a train wreck
Meaning: Messy and not put together.
For Example: I looked like a train wreck after the water balloon fight.
Alternatively: His room looked like a train wreck.
19. Built like a brick wall (used for humor)
Meaning: Heavy or blocky shape.
For Example: He joked that he’s built like a brick wall.
Alternatively: That pumpkin is built like a brick wall!
20. Looking rough
Meaning: Tired or messy.
For Example: You’re looking rough after that long bus ride.
Alternatively: My dog looked rough after her bath.
21. Like a scarecrow
Meaning: Very thin or messy.
For Example: He looked like a scarecrow in that baggy coat.
Alternatively: Her hair made her look like a scarecrow.
22. Like Frankenstein’s cousin
Meaning: Looks strange or scary.
For Example: He looked like Frankenstein’s cousin in that makeup.
Alternatively: My robot costume looked like Frankenstein’s cousin.
23. Like a troll under the bridge
Meaning: Ugly and mean-looking.
For Example: His mask looked like a troll under the bridge.
Alternatively: That statue looked like a troll under the bridge.
24. Not easy on the eyes
Meaning: Unpleasant to look at.
For Example: That paint color is not easy on the eyes.
Alternatively: His drawings are creative, but not easy on the eyes.
25. Like a gargoyle
Meaning: Stone-faced or scary-looking.
For Example: That statue looked like a gargoyle.
Alternatively: He froze and looked like a gargoyle on stage.
26. Like a pancake with eyes
Meaning: Flat and odd-looking.
For Example: The puppet looked like a pancake with eyes.
Alternatively: His clay face looked like a pancake with eyes.
27. Mug like a moose
Meaning: Large and not pretty.
For Example: He made a face like a moose!
Alternatively: That mask had a mug like a moose.
28. Scrambled face
Meaning: Features look messy.
For Example: The drawing had a scrambled face.
Alternatively: That old cartoon had a scrambled face character.
29. Lopsided smile
Meaning: Uneven smile, not attractive.
For Example: He gave a lopsided smile in the photo.
Alternatively: My drawing had a lopsided smile.
30. Like a bat in daylight
Meaning: Looks confused or off.
For Example: He looked like a bat in daylight after waking up.
Alternatively: That raccoon looked like a bat in daylight.
31. Eyes like marbles
Meaning: Big, odd-looking eyes.
For Example: That doll has eyes like marbles.
Alternatively: His toy bear has eyes like marbles.
32. Like a toad in a tuxedo
Meaning: Ugly but dressed up.
For Example: He looked like a toad in a tuxedo at the school play.
Alternatively: That frog drawing looks like a toad in a tuxedo.
33. Like a blob of paint
Meaning: Messy or undefined shape.
For Example: That artwork looks like a blob of paint.
Alternatively: Her dress-up outfit looked like a blob of paint.
34. Looks like a crumpled paper
Meaning: Wrinkly and messy.
For Example: His clothes looked like crumpled paper.
Alternatively: That face mask looked like crumpled paper.
35. Like leftover spaghetti
Meaning: Tangled and messy.
For Example: Her hair looked like leftover spaghetti.
Alternatively: The string art looked like leftover spaghetti.
36. Cartoon gone wrong
Meaning: Funny but ugly.
For Example: That costume looks like a cartoon gone wrong.
Alternatively: His doodle looks like a cartoon gone wrong.
37. A walking mess
Meaning: Very disorganized look.
For Example: After gym, I was a walking mess.
Alternatively: His paint-covered shirt made him a walking mess.
38. Like a balloon with a face
Meaning: Puffy and strange-looking.
For Example: That puppet looked like a balloon with a face.
Alternatively: He looked like a balloon with a face after the dentist.
39. Weird as a three-eyed fish
Meaning: Strange and ugly.
For Example: That toy is as weird as a three-eyed fish.
Alternatively: Her painting was weird as a three-eyed fish.
40. Eyes too close for comfort
Meaning: Strange facial features.
For Example: The cartoon had eyes too close for comfort.
Alternatively: His drawing had eyes too close for comfort.
True/False Quiz: Idioms for Ugly
1. “Face only a mother could love” means someone is very handsome.
True / False
2. If someone says “he hit every branch on the ugly tree,” they think the person is very attractive.
True / False
3. “Looks like roadkill” means something looks clean and perfect.
True / False
4. Saying someone “looks like a melted candle” means their face looks soft and droopy.
True / False
5. If something is “not much to look at,” it is very beautiful.
True / False
6. “Like a scarecrow” is used for someone who is neat and fancy.
True / False
7. “Cartoon gone wrong” means something looks funny and a little weird.
True / False
8. “Like leftover spaghetti” means something is messy and tangled.
True / False
9. “A walking mess” means someone looks organized and tidy.
True / False
10. “Weird as a three-eyed fish” means something looks unusual and not normal.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
Scoring Guide
- 10 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
- 7–9 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms nice work!
- 4–6 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!
Conclusion
Idioms for ugly may sound silly or funny, but they are used to describe how something or someone looks. These phrases don’t mean exactly what they say, but they help people share ideas in a creative way. Some of them are used in jokes or stories.
Even though they can be fun to learn, remember that being kind is always better than using words that hurt. Understanding idioms can help you enjoy books, movies, and conversations more. Keep exploring and learning these cool phrases.
