# beat with the ugly stick

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/beat-with-the-ugly-stick
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Used to describe someone who is particularly ugly or unattractive.

## Examples

- That old car looks like it was beaten with the ugly stick.
- The new building is so poorly designed that people say it was beaten with the ugly stick.
- While the designer clearly prioritized function over form, the resulting prototype looks as though it was beaten with the ugly stick.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.