Phrase Finder

"Mug" as fool, sucker

Posted by R. Berg April 04, 2003In reply to Mug, mug up posted by ESC on April 04, 2003

Any idea as to why "mug" means "fool", such as in "mug's game", and also as to what "mug" refers to in "mug up"?

Thanks in advance for any information.

MUG - .2a. Orig. Underground & Carnival, a dupe, fool; sucker. 1857 "Ducange Anglicus" "Vulgar Tongue' 13: Mug, n. Dupe. "Who is the 'mug.'?." From Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 2, H-O by J.E. Lighter, Random House, New York, 1994.

The same reference has several entries for "mug up":

Mug-up, noun. -- a snack or drink of coffee, a short respite for such a snack.
Mug up -- to study hard.
Mug up -- to drink one's fill of coffee.

Eric Partridge says "mug" in the sense of a fool, an easy dupe, probably comes from the idea "something into which one can pour anything" (A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English).

Replies

  • Mug TheFallen 04/04/03
    • CSI ESC 04/04/03