/ mʌg; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a tall cup for drinking from, usually with straight sides and a handle, used without a saucer :
a coffee mug
a beer mug (= a large glass with a handle)
—picture at glass
2.
a mug and what it contains :
a mug of coffee
3.
( slang ) a person's face :
I never want to see his ugly mug again.
4.
( informal ) a person who is stupid and easy to trick :
They made me look a complete mug.
He's no mug.
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IDIOMS
- a mug's game
■ verb ( -gg- )
1.
[ vn ] to attack sb violently in order to steal their money, especially in a public place :
She had been mugged in the street in broad daylight.
2.
[ v ] mug (for sb/sth) ( informal , especially NAmE ) to make silly expressions with your face or behave in a silly, exaggerated way, especially on the stage or before a camera :
to mug for the cameras
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PHRASAL VERBS
- mug sth up | mug up on sth
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WORD ORIGIN
noun and verb early 16th cent. (originally Scots and northern English , denoting an earthenware bowl): probably of Scandinavian origin; compare with Norwegian mugge , Swedish mugg pitcher with a handle.
pvsym. mid 19th cent.: of unknown origin.