Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

sleeping-beauty

Noun

/ˈsliːpɪŋ ˈbjuːti/

Definition

A term often used to describe a person or thing that is dormant or inactive but has the potential to be remarkable or attractive once noticed or awakened.

Examples

The company’s new technology is a sleeping beauty that could revolutionize the industry.
After years of neglect, the garden was a sleeping beauty waiting for the right owner to bring it back to life.

Meaning

The phrase originates from the fairy tale ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ referring to a beautiful character who falls into a deep sleep and is only awakened by a prince’s kiss. Metaphorically, it signifies something or someone with untapped potential or beauty that has not yet been realized.