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

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 Ainsworth, William Harrison

He was evidently a Spaniard, and an ugly customer.

From At the Point of the Sword by Hayens, Herbert

He turned about, muttering, and Raven, looking after him, thought he was an ugly customer.

From Old Crow by Brown, Alice

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

Bernardo is an ugly customer, and he is probably very bitter over the defeat of his forces and the collapse of the revolution.

From Two Boys of the Battleship or For the Honor of Uncle Sam by Webster, Frank V.