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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Thou’dst best not get across with Dick o’ Dover; he’s an ugly customer when he’s in the mind.”

From All's Well Alice's Victory by Lewin, M.