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

“I think we’ve always been seeing Alabama win games like we won against Ohio State, and I’ve felt, ‘Saban’s a lucky son of a gun.’

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 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

De son of a gun laid up in dat house and slept and de lake come moved de house way off somewhere and Motor didn’t know nothin’ ’bout it till de storm wuz ’bout over.”

From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston