Looking up...
Beautiful when viewed from a distance; the beauty is more apparent when not seen up close.
उसकी तस्वीर दूर से सुंदर लग रही थी, लेकिन पास आने पर धुंधली थी।
The photo looked beautiful from afar, but was blurry up close.
दूर से सुंदर लगने वाला फूल पास जाने पर काटने वाला निकल आया।
The flower that looked beautiful from afar turned out to be thorny up close.
Often used metaphorically to describe situations where initial impressions are misleadingly positive.
This phrase can describe people or situations where initial impressions are positive but closer examination reveals negatives. Example: 'उसकी दोस्ती दूर से सुंदर लगती है।' (Her friendship seems beautiful from afar.)
Always check context to determine if the phrase is used literally (about visual appearance) or figuratively (about first impressions).
Compound phrase formed from 'दूर' (distant) + 'से' (from) + 'सुंदर' (beautiful). The phrase has been used in Hindi literature and common speech for centuries to describe visual impressions.
This phrase is commonly used in both literal (visual beauty) and metaphorical contexts (first impressions). It often implies that the beauty is superficial or that closer inspection reveals flaws.