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

He was not long in finding the vine in question an ugly customer.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 18, No. 109, November, 1866 by Various

Well, Bristles, I don't blame you much, because he was an ugly customer.

From Fred Fenton Marathon Runner The Great Race at Riverport School by Chapman, Allen

It's an ugly customer the fever, though, Mr Whyte," observed Mr Trace; "and I calculate we ought to do him that pleasure.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine - Volume 54, No. 338, December 1843 by Various

He was evidently a Spaniard, and an ugly customer.

From At the Point of the Sword by Hayens, Herbert

"Brevald's a pretty ugly customer," said one of the men.

From The Trembling of a Leaf Little Stories of the South Sea Islands by Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset)