plugugly

[ pluhg-uhg-lee ]

/ ˈplʌgˌʌg li /

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noun, plural plug·ug·lies.Informal.

a ruffian; rowdy; tough.

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ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ

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True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

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Origin of plugugly

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; plug + ugly

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use plugugly in a sentence

Some longtime local acquaintances are struggling to square the man they know with the ugly associations.
No. 3 Republican Admits Talking to White Supremacist Conference|Tim Mak|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
TLC promptly pulled the plug on the hit series and Shannon embarked on a press tour denying the claims.
Butts, Brawls, and Bill Cosby: The Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2014 |Kevin Fallon|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Of those, 1,980 used the term “cute”, while just 12 mentioned the word “ugly”.
The Adorable New Prince George Photos|Tom Sykes|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Two seasons ago, the show killed off its main romantic interest, Matthew Crawley, in an ugly car accident.
‘The Walking Dead’ Fans Demand: Bring Back Beth!|Melissa Leon|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Just plug it into any TV and get watching—no need to schedule an installation.
New Innovations Let You Watch TV Anywhere You Go||December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A gentleman expatiating upon the good looks of women, declared that he had never yet seen an ugly woman.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
One Turkish Company, about a hundred strong, was making an ugly push within rifle shot of our ship.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
She looked Mariequita up and down, from her ugly brown toes to her pretty black eyes, and back again.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin
I was perfectly amazed to see how many little ugly habits I had to correct of which I had not been the least aware.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
"Let's fight them," said Dan, taking out his plug of tobacco and holding it until a decision was made.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn

British Dictionary definitions for plugugly

plug-ugly

adjective

informal extremely ugly

noun plural -lies

US slang a city tough; ruffian

Word Origin for plug-ugly

C19: origin obscure; originally applied to ruffians in New York who attempted to exert political pressure

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