ugly customer

American  

noun

1. a hostile or dangerous person.

---

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]

---

Etymology

Origin of ugly customer

First recorded in 1805–15

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ugly customer

With his friends, they say Dick Turpin can be as gentle as a lamb; with his foes, especially with a limb of the law like yourself, he's been found but an ugly customer.

From Rookwood by William Harrison Ainsworth

But if the fact brings any consolation, I may tell you that a sea-lion when irritated can be a very ugly customer.

From His Unknown Wife by Louis Tracy

“That Tom Dinass is an ugly customer if he’s put out.”

From Sappers and Miners The Flood beneath the Sea by Hal Hurst

His colour is of a dirty blue-black, and altogether he is a very ugly customer, as the unfortunate tiger usually finds.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 61, No. 377, March 1847 by Various

He knew Bad Bill was an ugly customer when he once got started.

From Crooked Trails and Straight by D. C. Hutchison

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---