what means "rough around the edges"?

[pipelette]

the dictionary says: "If someone is rough around the edges, they haven't mastered something, though they show promise."

But I have heart this expression in other contexts:

1. if s.o. does not feel well, a bit frayed maybe, for example because of a hang over

2. if s.o. is not very sophisticated, distinguished, but unpolished and without manners

Which is the right meaning? And/Or are there difficulties in AE and BE?

 

[Horsa]

I'm British. As far as I am concerned both of your definitions are fine and so is the one you found in the dictionary. I feel that the base meaning is unpolished/unsophisticated somehow not quite 100%.

 

[Alexis92]

in the US we generally use it to mean "unpolished"

 

[Ouisch]

When we describe someone as being "rough around the edges," it's a polite way of saying that his manners aren't as well-honed as they should be.

 

[Neillythere]

As a Brit, but not a teacher, I would not, personally, have used it in the context of someone who was a bit frayed or fragile as a result of a hangover.

I would, however agree with Ouisch on the 2nd sentence.

Hope this helps