Example 1: Two friends gossiping about their classmate
Camila: Hey, Barbara, have you see Johnny's new girlfriend??
Barbara: Oh my goodness, yes. Where did he meet her?
Camila: I have no idea. I always thought Johnny was pretty good looking, but his girlfriend, uh, not so much....
Barbara: Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess. Johnny probably sees something we can't see.
Example 2: Roommates discussing furniture
Jay: This is the amazing couch you were telling me about?! It's kind of ugly, Jeff.
Jeff: What are you talking about?! This print reminds me of when I was a kid. I love it!
Jay: Well, to me, it's super old-fashioned and outdated.
Jeff: You know what they say, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," and I love it!
Explanation:
In both examples, one person believes someone/something is ugly. The "beholder" is the person who is looking at the person/object and sees them/it through their eyes/preference/experience. In example 1, Johnny (the beholder) sees beauty in his girlfriend even though others cannot. In example 2, Jeff (the beholder) sees a beautiful couch while Jay thinks it's ugly. Basically, the expression means people can see some beauty when others might not.
