rough around the edges
In need of refinement; unsophisticated.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“His new business idea is a bit rough around the edges.”
“The young musician has a great voice, but his performance is still rough around the edges.”
“Although the manuscript was clearly rough around the edges, the editor recognized a brilliant story hidden beneath the unpolished prose.”
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bleeding edge
Something too new and untested to be reliable or to have any assurance of safety; the figurative place where such things exist.
- 02
cut up rough
To become angry; to make a fuss.
- 03
cutting edge
The forefront, or position of greatest advancement in some field.
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edge of the earth
A very remote place.
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edge of the world
A very remote place.
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edge out
To defeat in a contest or a game by a narrow margin of victory.
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have a rough time of it
To have many problems; to have a difficult time.
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live on the edge
To have an adventurous or perilous lifestyle; to behave in a manner which creates risks for oneself.
Last updated August 10, 2026