APAD: A face only a mother could love

A face only a mother could love is a common English idiom used to describe someone or something that is considered quite unattractive or even "ugly" by general standards.It highlights the cultural idea that a mother’s affection is uniquely blind to physical flaws, seeing the "perfect" child even when others do not.

 It suggests that a person's appearance is so unappealing that only the unconditional, biased love of their own mother could find them beautiful.

The expression is often used in a humorous or lighthearted way, sometimes even as a self-deprecating joke.

While typically referring to people, it can also be used for pets (like certain breeds of dogs) or even inanimate objects with strange designs.