“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase means that something that one person considers worthless or useless may be valued highly by someone else.
Tone Reflective
Where it comes from
The wording with “trash” and “treasure” is modern, but the idea that value depends on the person is centuries old and appears in many older proverbs.
Examples
- While she thought the old chair was an eyesore, her friend saw it as a perfect piece for refurbishing, proving the adage that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
- At the flea market, you realize that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure as people eagerly buy items others have discarded.
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