mug1

 
Pronunciation: /mʌg/

noun

  • 1a large cup, typically cylindrical with a handle and used without a saucer: she picked up her coffee mug
  • the contents of a mug: I drank a mug of tea
  • 2 informal a person’s face: I don’t want to see Barry’s ugly mug when I get home
  • 3British informal a stupid or gullible person: they were no mugs where finance was concerned
  • 4US informal a hoodlum or thug.

verb (mugs, mugging, mugged)

informal
  • 1 [with object] attack and rob (someone) in a public place: he was mugged by three men who stole his bike
  • 2 [no object] make faces, especially silly or exaggerated ones, before an audience or a camera: he mugged for the camera

Phrases

a mug's game

informal an activity in which it is foolish to engage because it is likely to be unsuccessful or dangerous: playing with drugs is a mug’s game

Derivatives

mugful

noun (plural mugfuls)

Origin:

early 16th century (originally Scots and northern English, denoting an earthenware bowl): probably of Scandinavian origin; compare with Norwegian mugge, Swedish mugg 'pitcher with a handle'