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

He was evidently a Spaniard, and an ugly customer.

From At the Point of the Sword by Hayens, Herbert

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

From Crooked Trails and Straight by Hutchison, D. C.

He’d be an ugly customer if he turned on us.

From With Ethan Allen at Ticonderoga by Foster, W. Bertram

An ugly customer to get across with, was my verdict.

From The Man Without a Memory by Marchmont, Arthur W. (Arthur Williams)

His circle of acquaintances suffered the little ones to come unto him contrary to what you might have thought, he being but an ugly customer to look at.

From When Ghost Meets Ghost by De Morgan, William Frend