mug

Everyday

1. A big cup with straight sides and a handle, for hot drinks. tree →
2. The drink in it: «a mug of cocoa». tree →
3. (verb) To attack and rob someone in the street. tree →
4. (informal) A face; or (British) a silly person who is easily tricked. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, mugs hold tea, coffee and hot chocolate; safety: hot drinks can scald, so carry carefully and keep them away from small children and the edge of tables. In maths, a mug is a measuring idea: «How many millilitres does the mug hold?» In safety lessons, being mugged is a crime — let things go, get away and tell an adult or the police. Phrases: «a mug of tea», «mug shot» (police photo).

Examples

• I had a mug of hot chocolate before bed. tree →
• Be careful — that mug is hot. tree →
• The mug holds about 300 millilitres. tree →
• Grandpa's mug says «World's Best Grandad». tree →
• A man was mugged on the way home and lost his wallet. tree →
• If someone tries to steal your bag, let it go and get to safety. tree →
• Don't be a mug — that's a trick! tree →
• We painted our own mugs in art. tree →
• She soon understood, however, that he did not find himself quite well, and therefore brought him a mug of water. tree →

Note

Countable. Verb: mug, mugged, mugging (double g); a person who mugs is a «mugger». A mug is bigger than a teacup and usually has no saucer.