[Vocabulary] get his ugly mug on TV

[Silverobama]

Hi.

I read the following sentence in this dictionary.

He managed to get his ugly mug on TV.

"Mug" here means "face", but what does the sentence mean? Does it mean "He managed to appear on TV with his face, which is ugly"?

 

[emsr2d2]

He somehow managed to arrange for his ugly face to be shown on TV.

 

[teechar]

I take it to mean that he managed (succeeded) to appear on TV despite not having an attractive countenance.

 

[Yankee]

Hi.

I read the following sentence in this dictionary.

He managed to get his ugly mug on TV.

"Mug" here means "face", but what does the sentence mean? Does it mean "He managed to appear on TV with his face, which is ugly"?

Well, yes, but the statement was made by someone who obviously doesn't approve or like the person and uses the "ugly mug" expression to emphasize the dislike.

 

[Tdol]

Ugly goes with mug- you often see them together. Most people on TV are attractive. If someone who is not a TV natural gets on, then this mention of their ugly mug makes sense.

 

[emsr2d2]

We don't know that the person has actually successfully got some kind of job on TV. Perhaps he's in an advert or he's an extra in a show. It could be that his face is being shown on TV because he's wanted by the police!

Here's a silly scenario for you:

John (watching Crimewatch): Helen! Helen! Come here!
Helen (entering the room): What?
John: Look!!! It's the Most Wanted section.
Helen: So what?
John: Look at the third photo. That's my cousin Reggie!
Helen: Oh my god! It is!
John: I always thought he was a bit shifty.
Helen: Blimey. I can't believe he managed to get his ugly mug on TV!

 

[jutfrank]

I don't agree that the phrase ugly mug is likely to mean that his face is considered ugly, though it could of course.

 

[teechar]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

[GoesStation]

Ugly mug is often used in an affectionate or, when applied to oneself, self-deprecatory manner.