What it means
To mug someone off means treating them like an idiot and getting one over on them, whether that's lying, flaking, cheating, or clowning them in front of others. It's common UK chat, with Love Island helping blast it into everyone’s vocab. If you feel mugged off, you’ve been done dirty and made to look like a proper mug.
Usage examples
"He swore he was skint, then chucked a story up buying shots for the whole pub. He's mugged you off, mate, don't fall for it again."
"He told everyone he'd pay us back then ghosted, proper mugged us all off."
"She kept saying she was staying in, then turned up at the motive with the same lad. Don't let her mug you off."
"Nah, my manager proper mugged me off in front of everyone and acted like it was banter."
"You said you were linking me later, then bussed me for your bredrins instead. Proper mugged me off there."
Where it comes from
Built on British slang mug, meaning a fool, sap, or easy target. By the late 20th century, mug off was already in UK street chat for treating someone like a mug, rinsing them, embarrassing them, or taking liberties. It later blew up wider through TV and online banter, but the slang itself is older than that.
