Are you looking for a great compliment to pay someone? If you're trying to compliment the person's inner beauty, then you can use the expression, "beautiful inside and out." It's a common phrase, and you probably hear it all the time in conversation and in media.
"Beautiful inside and out" is a great compliment, and it suits many situations in professional and social settings. This post unpacks the idiom's origin, meaning, and use in conversation.
Beautiful Inside and Out Meaning
If you're using the phrase "beautiful inside and out," you usually refer to a person, not an object. The term refers to the beauty inside and outside of the person. However, while the exterior beauty of the individual might account for their looks, their internal beauty refers to their personality.
You're not using the phrase to describe someone's organs or their health. You're using "beautiful inside and out": to refer to their soul, heart, or personality and how they portray themselves to other people. "Beautiful inside and out" is a compliment, and you'll use it when directly addressing the said person or when talking about them with other people.
The phrase means that you enjoy being around the person. They have a good demeanor and positive social interactions with other people, motivating and inspiring the people they meet to live a better life. Typically, the compliment refers more to the person's inner beauty than their physical appearance.
Many people will use the phrase, even if the person isn't attractive, but they have a good personality.
Beautiful Inside and Out Example Usage
- "Kim is beautiful inside and out. Did you see her give that homeless person a $10 bill?"
- "Mike is beautiful inside and out; he's a real class act."
- "Chloe has a heart of gold; she's beautiful inside and out."
- "John always helps people out that need it. He's beautiful inside and out."
Beautiful Inside and Out Origin
The idiomatic phrase "beautiful inside and out" originates from the Victorian era, appearing in romantic literature. The first examples of the use of the phrase in literature come from the 1800s, featuring in novels and poems.
The word "beauty" originates from the Latin word "Bellus," meaning attractive or pretty. The French adopted the word, changing it to "Beaute," which is closer to the English version of the word beauty.
When the Normans invaded England, the use of the word spread into the English language, adapting to "beauty" during the Medieval times in the 1400s.
In modern language, someone with beauty in their features is "beautiful." The word evolved into a compliment, and it's a common way of describing a person's looks or a landscape or object.
Phrases Similar to Beautiful Inside and Out
- You're great through and through
- You're an angel
- Perfection personified.
Phrases Opposite to Beautiful Inside and Out
- That person is toxic.
- A heart of stone.
What is the Correct Saying?
- Beautiful inside and out.
- Beautiful on the inside and the outside.
Ways People May Say Beautiful Inside and Out Incorrectly
Some people may use "beautiful inside and out" when referring to someone's health, not their personality. So, using the phrase to describe someone's physical condition is the incorrect use of the term. The word "beautiful" in the phrase refers to a person's attitude or personality, not their health.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Beautiful Inside and Out
When you say the phrase "beautiful inside and out," you're referring to someone's personality and their looks. You can use the term in social situations, but it has little use in professional circumstances. Typically, you'll use the saying when passing someone a compliment.