ugly customer

An especially mean, dangerous, or malicious person. I wouldn't go messing with that dude—he's one ugly customer. There are some ugly customers in this part of town, so watch your back.

ugly customer

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]

See also: customer, ugly

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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References in classic literature ?

To continue in fistic phraseology, he had a genius for coming up to the scratch, wherever and whatever it was, and proving himself an ugly customer. He would go in and damage any subject whatever with his right, follow up with his left, stop, exchange, counter, bore his opponent (he always fought All England) to the ropes, and fall upon him neatly.

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"But I guess Strickland was an ugly customer when he was roused," said Captain Nichols, reflectively.

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The guide, which will help shed light on the lingo used in the world of strip clubs, includes BT, to describe a punter who is good to talk to, and See You Later, to describe an ugly customer.

UK Strip club set to release book on stripper slang

The alternative, of course, is for referees, who are all aware of the noted "hit men," to get these ugly customers off the field with all dispatch should they step out of line.

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NICE girls who hang around in bars can usually expect to attract some pretty ugly customers.

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It being the Cold War, the United States was prepared, eager even, to make nice with all manner of ugly customers to combat the Marxist threat to the Western Hemisphere.

Negroponte, senators lack curiosity: intelligence nominee avoids questions about role in Honduras

Terri has become a bit of an expert on snakebite first aid, which sounds like a good idea given her husband's penchant for getting up close and personal with some very ugly customers.