mugshot

Everyday

1. A mugshot is a photograph of a person's face, from the front and the side, taken by the police after an arrest. tree →
2. (informal, jokey) Any photo of someone's face, especially an unflattering one. tree →

In the lessons

In news and crime stories, mugshots of suspects are shown. In media lessons on gossip, being shown in a mugshot means someone was arrested, not that they are guilty. Jokingly, people call passport photos or school ID pictures "mugshots". Phrases: «police mugshot», «take a mugshot».

Examples

• The police released the suspect's mugshot. tree →
• The robber's mugshot was on the front page. tree →
• My passport photo looks like a mugshot! tree →
• In the film, the gangster smirked in his mugshot. tree →
• A mugshot doesn't prove someone is guilty. tree →
• Every member of the club had a mugshot on the noticeboard. tree →

Note

Countable noun; one word or two («mug shot»). From «mug», slang for face. Trap: a mugshot shows someone was arrested; a court decides if they are guilty.