ugly customer

American  

noun

1. a hostile or dangerous person.

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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]

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Etymology

Origin of ugly customer

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

Mr. Shark, who is an ugly customer, had been cruising in the neighbourhood, and had taken a morsel out of an American swimmer a little time before.

From Romantic Spain A Record of Personal Experiences (Vol. II) by O'Shea, John Augustus

“I am thinking,” said Trevor, in a quiet, slow way—“thinking that he’s an ugly customer, and that his head looks precious hard.”

From Thereby Hangs a Tale Volume One by Fenn, George Manville

The monster turned out to be a large gaunt dog wolf, who would have been an ugly customer for an unarmed man to meet when the pinch of hunger was upon him.

From The Last of the Vikings by Bowling, John

"That 'u'd be a ugly customer to meet on a dark road," he said, holding it up for the others to see.

From Westerfelt by Harben, Will N. (William Nathaniel)

This done, we again sprang at our ugly customer, he at the bow, and I about midships.

From Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851 by Various