noun / verb

mug

A person's face.

His grinning mug fills the photo on my phone screen.

Etymology

Mug first names a drinking vessel. The slang face sense is commonly connected with mugs decorated as faces or heads, transferring the vessel’s familiar appearance to a person.

More examples

  • I recognize that mug, even behind those enormous sunglasses.
  • The kids mug for the camera instead of smiling normally.
  • She keeps mugging until her little brother laughs.

Forms

mug · mugs · mugged · mugging

mugshot noun — A photograph taken for police identification.

Similar words

face
Neutral term without the slang or comic tone of mug.
grimace
Suggests pain or disgust, rather than playful facial exaggeration.