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View synonyms for

mug

[ muhg ]

noun

  1. a drinking cup, usually cylindrical in shape, having a handle, and often of a heavy substance, as earthenware.
  2. the quantity it holds.
  3. Slang.
    1. the face.
    2. the mouth.
    3. an exaggerated facial expression; grimace, as in acting.
    4. a thug, ruffian, or other criminal.
  4. British Slang. a gullible person; dupe; fool.


verb (used with object)

mugged, mugging.
  1. to assault or menace, especially with the intention of robbery.
  2. Slang. to photograph (a person), especially in compliance with an official or legal requirement.

verb (used without object)

mugged, mugging.
  1. Slang. to grimace; exaggerate a facial expression, as in acting.

mug

1

/ ʌɡ /

noun

  1. a drinking vessel with a handle, usually cylindrical and made of earthenware
  2. Also calledmugful the quantity held by a mug or its contents
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

mug

2

/ ʌɡ /

noun

  1. slang.
    a person's face or mouth

    get your ugly mug out of here!

  2. slang.
    a grimace
  3. slang.
    a gullible person, esp one who is swindled easily
  4. a mug's game
    a worthless activity
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. informal.
    tr to attack or rob (someone) violently
  2. slang.
    intr to pull faces or overact, esp in front of a camera
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of mug1

First recorded in 1560–70; probably from Scandinavian; compare Swedish mugg, Norwegian, Danish mugge “drinking cup”; sense “face” apparently transferred from cups adorned with grotesque faces; sense “to assault” from earlier pugilistic slang “to strike in the face, fight”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of mug1

C16: probably from Scandinavian; compare Swedish mugg

Origin of mug2

C18: perhaps from mug 1, since drinking vessels were sometimes modelled into the likeness of a face
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“Filth are my politics, flith is my life,” Wilson mugs for the camera, flipping her hair and putting her hands on her hips.

From

From the ashes she pulled a strange assortment of survivors: fragments of ceramic plates, misshapen metal and coffee mugs that no public health authority would recommend using.

From

"It's like watching a supercomputer calculate how many Hobnobs fit in a Sports Direct mug, while solving climate change sits on the 'to-do' list," he said.

From

He started out selling toys, mugs and ceramics at a swap meet in Cerritos.

From

That morning, Ayon said, several vendors that supply mugs, chocolates, plates, magnets and other knickknacks to the store told him that they would hike prices as much as 30%.

From

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