What one person considers worthless or undesirable may be valuable or useful to someone else.
This concept appears in various forms throughout history, with similar expressions in Latin ('quod uni vitium, alii voluptas'). The modern English phrasing emerged in the 20th century, gaining popularity with the rise of flea markets and garage sales.
This phrase perfectly captures the subjective nature of value and has become the unofficial motto of entire industries - from antique dealing to upcycling. It's also the philosophical foundation behind every thrift store and recycling program!
Uses 'man' as default universal human. Reflects historical practice of male as unmarked category while female required marking.
Rephrase as 'one person's trash is another person's treasure' or 'what's trash to one is treasure to another.'
["one person's trash is another person's treasure","what's trash to one is treasure to another"]
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