Mug definition
An example of mug is to steal a person's wallet.
An example of mug is for a little boy to make a scary face while his mom is taking his picture.
The partygoers mugged for the camera.
An example of a mug is a cup for drinking coffee.
An example of a mug is a frown.
Arrested the thief who mugged the tourists.
He's a gullible mug - he believed her again.
And if you come to fibbery, You must Mug one or two,
"Suppose they had Mugged you?" / "Done what to me?" / "Mugged you. Slogged you, you know."
The children weren't interested in sitting still for a serious photo; they mugged for the camera.
- an undertaking regarded as foolish, pointless, etc.
Other Word Forms
Noun
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
Origin of mug
- Probably from mug (possibly in allusion to mugs decorated with grotesque faces)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- Perhaps of Scandinavian origin
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- 1560s ("bowl, pot, jug"), of unknown origin, perhaps from North Germanic (compare Swedish mugg (“mug, jug"), Norwegian mugge (“pitcher, open can for warm drinks"), Danish mugge), or Low German mokke, mukke (“mug"), also of unknown origin. "Face" sense possibly from grotesque faces on certain drinking vessels. "Assault" sense of verb possibly from hitting someone in the face.
From Wiktionary