son of a gun

American  

noun

plural

sons of guns

1. a rogue; rascal; scoundrel.

   That son of a gun still owes me $20.

2. a tiresome or disagreeable matter, chore, etc.

3. (used as an affectionate greeting, term of address, etc.).

   Charlie Humpelmeyer, you old son of a gun, how are you?

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interjection

1. (used as an exclamation of irritation, surprise, dismay, etc.)

son of a gun British  

noun

1. slang a rogue or rascal: used as a jocular form of address

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Etymology

Origin of son of a gun

First recorded in 1700–10; perhaps originally the illegitimate offspring of a soldier, though later influenced by British argot gun “thief”; gun moll

Example Sentences

“And then, son of a gun, if I’m not standing in front of red tape that was actually part of an official government document,” he says.

From Washington Post • Jan. 16, 2023

"Unfortunately, that's the next best guy in the division. He's a tough son of a gun, and he wasn't going to let me find that finish."

From BBC • Nov. 7, 2021

Then the universe brought Bill Lawrence into the mix, and he actually made the son of a gun happen.

From New York Times • Jul. 14, 2021

“Coach Bush was a man’s man, a tough son of a gun, but he was tough because he was passionate about changing lives and giving you the opportunity to be the best you can be.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 13, 2017

But if that sneaky son of a gun thought it was going to terrorize Rex Walls’s little girl, it had by God got another think coming.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls