Phrase: Mugs Away
Wayne Newberry
could tell me what the derivation is. Once the question occured to me, I
couldn't seem to get it out of my head....kind of like the way I hear a song
on the car radio just before I get out to walk in to work, and then I hum it
all day.
Wayne
Tim Valihora
I wondered the same question a while back so I asked a fellow who told
me that the term 'mug' is english slang for a loser. I'm not positive he
was correct but the answer made good sense. "losers away !."
--
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Bob Lanctot
In a previous article, wa...@becks.cac.stratus.com (Wayne Newberry) says:
I think it's a somewhat derogatory expression, really. It's an English
expression and the English have all kinds of expression. I've always
thought of it as someone being a "mug" for losing. Webster defines the
word mug, besides the drinking kind, as being "the face or mouth of a
person", "grimace", "punk", "thug". The "mouth" one might make sense if
you think of a loser sort of standing there with his mouth open when his
opponent takes out 156 or something and he's sitting on 32.
I'll have to ask my English friends.
--
_________
/ \ | Bob Lanctot |
o===========|======OOOOO))**))**))-------| Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
\_________/ "Have darts, will travel!" | ae...@Freenet.Carleton.CA |
Bob Lanctot
In a previous article, af...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Tim Valihora) says:
>
>
>In a previous article, wa...@becks.cac.stratus.com (Wayne Newberry) says:
>
> I wondered the same question a while back so I asked a fellow who told
>me that the term 'mug' is english slang for a loser. I'm not positive he
>was correct but the answer made good sense. "losers away !."
If you've read my previous post, you'll see that Webster defines a mug as
a "punk" or "thug" - both are losers aren't they? So perhaps that's
exactly the case as Tim says.
David Clark
>
>
>> I wondered the same question a while back so I asked a fellow who told
>>me that the term 'mug' is english slang for a loser. I'm not positive he
>>was correct but the answer made good sense. "losers away !."
>
>If you've read my previous post, you'll see that Webster defines a mug as
>a "punk" or "thug" - both are losers aren't they? So perhaps that's
>exactly the case as Tim says.
>
I've always thought of "mug" as a loser! ie don't be a
mug or mugs away ( loser first ). Just like the old "bust" i guess. Shoot
over your final score and you "bust". Seems darts is full of terms
like these , diddle , hockey ( pro- ochey ) , bulls eye ...bloody english :)
Maybe it's time for a change....
David
Bad Dog
Lanctot) wrote:
>
>
> In a previous article, wa...@becks.cac.stratus.com (Wayne Newberry) says:
>
[snipped] reference to "Mugs Away"
>
> I'll have to ask my English friends.
> --
I have no English friends, at least none whom play darts, so I've have to
rely on a friend from Indiana.
In bar cricket it is traditional that the loser buys a round for the
winner. Of course, since he (she) now has a fresh mug of Ale in his/her
hand, it would be impossible to start the next game. Good sportsmanship
then prevails in that the winner raises his mug in a toast to the loser,
who will now throw first in the next game, and says "Mugs Away."
I don't know if it is accurate, but it is alot kinder than the other
definitions posted in this thread. This may be the original derivation
where "mug" was associated with "loser"
--
Bad Dog "If ignorance is bliss, I'm in Eden!!!!"
Every person you meet knows something you don't- learn from them
LLIB #438
A.R.D. Pepper
in article <CL30F...@freenet.carleton.ca>:
>
>
>In a previous article, wa...@becks.cac.stratus.com (Wayne Newberry) says:
>
>>I know the usage of the phrase Mugs Away, but I'd appreciate it if someone
>>could tell me what the derivation is. Once the question occured to me, I
>>couldn't seem to get it out of my head....kind of like the way I hear a song
>>on the car radio just before I get out to walk in to work, and then I hum it
>>all day.
>>
>>Wayne
>>
> I wondered the same question a while back so I asked a fellow who told
>me that the term 'mug' is english slang for a loser. I'm not positive he
>was correct but the answer made good sense. "losers away !."
"dupe" might be a more correct synonym than a "loser"; that is someone
who is foolish enough to think they might possibly win when they really
do not have a chance.
Alas, although it lists this sense of the word, the OED gives no
derivation for it. Perhaps it comes from the use of "mug" to mean
"face", which itself is thought to have arisen from the common 18th
century practice of decorating drinking mugs with grotesque human
faces. A "shark" or "hustler" might judge their potential victims
mostly from the appearance of their face, but I am just speculating
here.
My father used to use the term "mug" to mean someone who somewhat too
willingly did things detrimental to themselves while getting nothing in
return--sort of a "patsy", but with faults arising more from
over-generosity. This could also be applicable in this situation.
(The OED does not verify this meaning of "mug", however).
I must add that I think perhaps insults are somewhat more lightly taken
in the UK than they are in North America.
Adrian.
Bob Lanctot
In a previous article, d...@pyrtech.mis.pyramid.com (David Clark) says:
>In article <CL31D...@freenet.carleton.ca> ae...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Bob Lanctot) writes:
>>
>>
>>> I wondered the same question a while back so I asked a fellow who told
>>>me that the term 'mug' is english slang for a loser. I'm not positive he
>>>was correct but the answer made good sense. "losers away !."
>>
>>If you've read my previous post, you'll see that Webster defines a mug as
>>a "punk" or "thug" - both are losers aren't they? So perhaps that's
>>exactly the case as Tim says.
>>
>
> I've always thought of "mug" as a loser! ie don't be a
>mug or mugs away ( loser first ). Just like the old "bust" i guess. Shoot
>over your final score and you "bust". Seems darts is full of terms
>like these , diddle , hockey ( pro- ochey ) , bulls eye ...bloody english :)
>
> Maybe it's time for a change....
Ya want a change? Go play soft tip. Don't fuck with my game.
Bob Lanctot
In a previous article, sai...@merle.acns.nwu.edu (Bad Dog) says:
>In article <CL315...@freenet.carleton.ca>, ae...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Bob
>Lanctot) wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> In a previous article, wa...@becks.cac.stratus.com (Wayne Newberry) says:
>>
>[snipped] reference to "Mugs Away"
>
>>
>> I'll have to ask my English friends.
>> --
>I have no English friends, at least none whom play darts, so I've have to
>rely on a friend from Indiana.
>
>In bar cricket it is traditional that the loser buys a round for the
>winner. Of course, since he (she) now has a fresh mug of Ale in his/her
>hand, it would be impossible to start the next game. Good sportsmanship
>then prevails in that the winner raises his mug in a toast to the loser,
>who will now throw first in the next game, and says "Mugs Away."
>
>I don't know if it is accurate, but it is alot kinder than the other
>definitions posted in this thread. This may be the original derivation
>where "mug" was associated with "loser"
I think I like that explanation best.
Bob Lanctot
>
>
>In a previous article, sai...@merle.acns.nwu.edu (Bad Dog) says:
>
>>In article <CL315...@freenet.carleton.ca>, ae...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Bob
>>Lanctot) wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> In a previous article, wa...@becks.cac.stratus.com (Wayne Newberry) says:
>>>
>>[snipped] reference to "Mugs Away"
>>
>>>
>>> I'll have to ask my English friends.
>>> --
>>I have no English friends, at least none whom play darts, so I've have to
>>rely on a friend from Indiana.
>>
>>In bar cricket it is traditional that the loser buys a round for the
>>winner. Of course, since he (she) now has a fresh mug of Ale in his/her
>>hand, it would be impossible to start the next game. Good sportsmanship
>>then prevails in that the winner raises his mug in a toast to the loser,
>>who will now throw first in the next game, and says "Mugs Away."
>>
>>I don't know if it is accurate, but it is alot kinder than the other
>>definitions posted in this thread. This may be the original derivation
>>where "mug" was associated with "loser"
>
>I think I like that explanation best.
>
Well, I did it. I checked with an English friend and he confessed that the
word "mug" in the phrase "mugs away" is indeed a British slang word
meaning "loser".
So I hope that settles the discussion.
Next...
Mark P. Nelson
: af...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA (Tim Valihora) wrote,
: in article <CL30F...@freenet.carleton.ca>:
: >
: >
: >In a previous article, wa...@becks.cac.stratus.com (Wayne Newberry) says:
: >
: >>I know the usage of the phrase Mugs Away, but I'd appreciate it if someone
: >>could tell me what the derivation is. Once the question occured to me, I
: >>couldn't seem to get it out of my head....kind of like the way I hear a song
: >>on the car radio just before I get out to walk in to work, and then I hum it
: >>all day.
: >>
: >>Wayne
: >>
: > I wondered the same question a while back so I asked a fellow who told
: >me that the term 'mug' is english slang for a loser. I'm not positive he
: >was correct but the answer made good sense. "losers away !."
: "dupe" might be a more correct synonym than a "loser"; that is someone
: who is foolish enough to think they might possibly win when they really
: do not have a chance.
: Alas, although it lists this sense of the word, the OED gives no
: derivation for it. Perhaps it comes from the use of "mug" to mean
: "face", which itself is thought to have arisen from the common 18th
: century practice of decorating drinking mugs with grotesque human
: faces. A "shark" or "hustler" might judge their potential victims
: mostly from the appearance of their face, but I am just speculating
: here.
Well, sort of. A shark often judges its victims by the smell in the
water, or by the thrashing of the feet and legs. Ahem. Disregard this
paragraph.
: My father used to use the term "mug" to mean someone who somewhat too
: willingly did things detrimental to themselves while getting nothing in
: return--sort of a "patsy", but with faults arising more from
: over-generosity. This could also be applicable in this situation.
: (The OED does not verify this meaning of "mug", however).
This is more or less accurate. "Mugs away" is what the winner of a game
says to get the loser to start the next game. It is a piece of mild
one-upmanship, implying that since I (the speaker) just won, I can
afford to be generous and give you (the loser, who fondly imagines he
has a chance against the great me) the advantage of throwing first,
although, of course, it won't help you a bit.
I'm Scots, and have played darts in many places between Berlin and
Berkeley over the past 25 years.
: I must add that I think perhaps insults are somewhat more lightly taken
: in the UK than they are in North America.
It's all taken in good part, and not considered an insult. If it makes
you mad and puts you off your game, so much the better. If it inspires
you to new heights of play and you win, more fool me for encouraging you.
--
Mark P. Nelson (nel...@alleleb.berkeley.edu)
/* Demoniac frenzy, moping melancholy,
And moon-struck madness. Paradise Lost XI, 485 */
A.R.D. Pepper
in article <CLnv1...@freenet.carleton.ca>:
>
>Well, I did it. I checked with an English friend and he confessed that the
>word "mug" in the phrase "mugs away" is indeed a British slang word
>meaning "loser".
>
>So I hope that settles the discussion.
>
Does it merely reflect the fact that the person in question has lost
the current game, or is it (as I contend) an implication that the "mug"
is, in fact, a "hopelessly unsuccessful or incompetent person--in other
words, a failure"?
The latter is, after all, another sense of the word "loser", listed in
the OED2 and probably in most dictionaries of slang. Many, probably
most, synonymous words do not correspond in all of their respective
possible meaning.
I do not believe it would be correct English slang, for instance, to
talk about "the mug of last night's soccer match", although it might
be right to talk about a particularly bad team as being "right mugs".
But I could be completely wrong about this.
Adrian.
Wayne Newberry
question, I've been following the discussion with interest. With all
the variety of explanations, I think I have one for every occasion.
My thanks to all who responded. I appreciate it.
Tight groups!
Wayne