Diamante en bruto/Diamond in the Rough

Question

In English, calling someone or something a diamond in the rough is like calling it something with great potential that is still in it's natural/unrefined state. In searching for a Spanish equivalent I was able to find diamante en bruto, but does that have the same meaning/connotation'

Answer 1

"diamond in the rough" refers to finding something of value among things of little or no value... so can anyone give an accurate translation in Spanish???

Answer 2

Diamante en bruto siendo pulido

Oddly, this is a case where English would prefer a that...A diamond in the rough that is (in the process of ) being polished.

But, you can definitely say...A diamond in the rough being polished.

But I think the phrase we might use for this idea is "a work in progress" It can be used for people and objects. For instance, if you are an artist painting a picture and it looks really bad because it is in an early stage, you can say "It's still a work in progress." This means it will be much better later...after it is completed.

In reference to people, it is often used to excuse someone's lack of skill at something -- especially if that lack of skill just got publicly displayed. The statement is usually said by the person responsible for training the other person in some way. For instance, after hearing me try to speak Spanish, Heidita might say to those around, "Well, he's still a work in progress." Meaning, one day, I will speak good Spanish because she's gonna keep coaching me at it.

I say "oddly" because usually it is Spanish that uses a bunch of que's where English has no that's. - webdunce, DIC 4, 2009

Answer 3

Como digo en ingles: Diamante en bruto siendo pulido?

Diamond in the rough its been poloshing up???

Oh que ganas de estudiar joyeria xD

Answer 4

HI Nathan, pozi, un diamante en bruto sería Quentin sin ir más lejos, en este caso bruto de verdad.....jejejeje

Answer 5

In English, calling someone or something a diamond in the rough is like calling it something with great potential that is still in it's natural/unrefined state. In searching for a Spanish equivalent I was able to find diamante en bruto, but does that have the same meaning/connotation?

I would say so. Here's two sites, one referring to each meaning: a diamond in the rough and the other to an uncut (or not in a setting) diamond.

http://sinserlibre.obolog.com/diamante-bruto-78981

uncut diamond
(wait for it. You're half way through the video before they introduce the diamond for the sister's wedding.)