Meaning of Idiom ‘A Thing of Beauty’
A thing of beauty is something that one truly appreciates or derives pleasure from; a thing that pleases you or brings a feeling of contentment joy, appreciation, admiration, etc. but not necessarily because of the outward appearance.
Usage Notes
A thing of beauty can be used to describe anything, even abstract concepts, that pleases you. Using it to describe physical objects is usually literal, rather than idiomatic.
Examples
“Sitting at the lake with a fishing pole on a nice sunny day, ice-cold beer in hand—it’s a thing of beauty I tell you.”
“Watching her act is a thing of beauty. She really brings her characters to life.”
“This computer program is so simple and elegant. It’s really a thing of beauty.”
Origin
This idiom is thought to have derived from John Keat’s 1818 poem Endymion:
A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
