# ugly customer

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/ugly-customer
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Someone or something unwelcome or unpleasant.

## Examples

- That stray dog is an ugly customer.
- The security guard had to deal with an ugly customer who refused to leave the store after closing time.
- The negotiator realized he was dealing with an ugly customer, a man whose reputation for hostility and stubbornness preceded him in every boardroom.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.