This picturesque French expression "un ours mal léché" literally "a badly licked bear" is applied to an awkwardly rough sort of person with no social polish, badly brought up, maybe a rough diamond, but more rough than diamond.
Seems to have the same roots as the English expression "lick into shape", both deriving from an old belief that bear cubs were born misshapen & had to be licked into shape by their mothers.
Parting thot: "I am a Bear of Very Little Brain, and long words Bother me." – Winnie the Pooh
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