ugly customer

American  

noun

1. a hostile or dangerous person.

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ugly customer Idioms  

1. An ill-natured or vicious individual, as in Watch out for Charlie when he's drinking; he can be an ugly customer. This phrase uses ugly in the sense of “mean” or “dangerous.” [c. 1800]

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Etymology

Origin of ugly customer

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

I do not know what he thought of me: I do know that I thought him a very ugly customer.

From Dick Onslow Among the Redskins by Soper, George

He was evidently a Spaniard, and an ugly customer.

From At the Point of the Sword by Hayens, Herbert

Cuhullin was an ugly customer to meet with; and, the idea of the "cake" aforesaid flattened the very heart within him.

From Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales by Various

It is a fine specimen of the New England variety of the Felis concolor and would no doubt have proved an ugly customer to meet on a dark night.

From A Busy Year at the Old Squire's by Stephens, C. A. (Charles Asbury)

He turned about, muttering, and Raven, looking after him, thought he was an ugly customer.

From Old Crow by Brown, Alice