mug
pronunciation
How to pronounce mug in British English:
UK [mʌɡ]
How to pronounce mug in American English:
US [mʌɡ]
-
- Noun:
- the quantity that can be held in a mug
- a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of
- the human face (`kisser' and `smiler' and `mug' are informal terms for `face' and `phiz' is British)
- with handle and usually cylindrical
-
- Verb:
- rob at gunpoint or with the threat of violence
Word Origin
- mug (n.1)
- "drinking vessel," 1560s, "bowl, pot, jug," of unknown origin, perhaps from Scandinavian (compare Swedish mugg "mug, jug," Norwegian mugge "pitcher, open can for warm drinks"), or Low German mokke, mukke "mug," also of unknown origin.
- mug (n.2)
- "a person's face," 1708, possibly from mug (n.1), on notion of drinking mugs shaped like grotesque faces. Sense of "portrait or photograph in police records (as in mug shot, 1950) had emerged by 1887. Hence, also, "a person" (especially "a criminal"), 1890.
- mug (v.1)
- "to beat up," 1818, originally "to strike the face" (in pugilism), from mug (n.2). The general meaning "attack" is first attested 1846, and "attack to rob" is from 1864. Perhaps influenced by thieves' slang mug "dupe, fool, sucker" (1851). Related: Mugged; mugging.
- mug (v.2)
- "make exaggerated facial expressions," 1855, originally theatrical slang, from mug (n.2). Related: Mugged; mugging.
Example
- 1. Pour the hot milk back into the mug . Stir well .
- 2. But I don 't think an interest in health is what motivates people who point at those of us who keep a can at our side instead of a stained mug .
- 3. It states that your mug and your emotions interact .
- 4. Studying the ranks of technology billionaires , who is the mug now ?
- 5. Where it ends , where the mug ends ?