plug-ugly - Glite Dictionary

Examples

You see, I own a plug-ugly who's going to be engaged fisticuffs-wise tonight, and I have to stop by and put the lead weights in his gloves and wise him up wise-wise.

It's Always Fair Weather (1955)
In the 1850s, the notorious plug-uglies were known for intimidating voters in street fights.
The neighborhood was often troubled by plug-uglies who bullied weaker residents.
He was considered a plug-ugly for his aggressive behavior towards anyone who challenged him.

Synonyms

roughneck

vsplug-ugly

Offensive

3 8.6

A person who acts violently and often starts fights

targets weaker people and often implies gang membership historically

orc

vsplug-ugly

Offensive

3 9.0

A rude name for a person who is cruel or very ugly

refers to a violent aggressive person who bullies weaker people rather than an insult

toughie

vsplug-ugly

Offensive

8.9

A young person who is violent and often breaks the law

focuses more on bullying weaker people and gang membership historically

Antonyms

gentleman

∞ 1.4

A man who is polite and kind to other people

peacemaker

23 3.7

A person who helps end arguments and makes people agree

How Violent

gangster

249 4.4

thug

Offensive

244 4.9

plug-ugly

Offensive

9.9

bully

Offensive

301 3.2

Surface Forms

plug-ugly singular

plug-uglies plural

Morphology

plug-ugly = plug + ugly (opaque) = plug + ugly

Although formed from 'plug' + 'ugly', the idiomatic meaning 'violent thug' is not predictable from the literal senses of the components.

Etymology

Plug-ugly is thought to come from a late 1800s gang called the Plug Uglies, who were known for fighting and rough behavior. So a plug-ugly became a name for 'a violent or aggressive person'.