Meaning of ugly stick | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A traditional Newfoundland musical instrument fashioned from household and toolshed items, typically a mop handle attached with bottle caps, small bells, tin cans, etc., which are struck with a drumstick while one end of the handle is hit against the floor.
   Canada
2. A notional stick with which unattractive people are said to have been hit, causing them to become ugly.
   US, humorous, slang

Equivalents

Examples

“You may also find⟳ an authentic ugly stick⟳. It's masterfully constructed with beer stoppers, duct tape, a tobacco can, and a few pieces of wood. It just is…”

“Nobody's invited; everybody just comes. And there's no real planning, because the folks that come⟳ bring⟳ food and music with them. There are fiddles and squeezeboxes and ugly sticks and sometimes even drums to make⟳ the music.”

“A lot of you know⟳ what it is. It's an ugly stick⟳. And you can see⟳ why. [laughter] Anyway, basically what it is is an old mop, or a new one if you're playing at the Arts and Culture Centre [prolonged laughter and clapping.] And it's an old juice can with some black tape over it. A handful of three and a half inch nails. Some felt tins, beer stoppers, wherever they came from [laughter], and that's about it, and it's supposed to make⟳ some music.”

“In the main room a traditional Newfoundland band was playing regional folk music. People were dancing and singing and having the best time. Everyone looked so happy as they passed around the "Ugly Stick⟳," a traditional musical instrument made from household and tool shed⟳ items like⟳ a mop handle⟳ with bottle caps, tin cans, small bells and other items to make⟳ noise. […] I'm not sure I've ever felt happier than I did while I was banging the boot with the stick⟳ attached on the floor, the nailed on bottle caps clinking to the rhythm of the folk song the band was playing.”

“Signifying is a way of saying the truth that hurts with a laugh⟳, a way of capping on (shutting up) someone. Getting even talking bout people's mammas & such. It's a love⟳/hate⟳ exercise in exorcising one's hostilities. It's a funny way of saying something negative that is obviously untrue like⟳: "you look⟳ like⟳ you been whupped wid uh ugly stick⟳" […]”

“Another unique characteristic of signification is that it can be both light⟳ and heavy. […] An example of lightweight siggin or cappin is provided in the playful name-calling rituals, such as: "You so ugly look⟳ like⟳ you been hit by a ugly stick⟳," and "Yo natural look⟳ like⟳ this broad on the wall" (pointing to a picture of Medusa).”

“You know⟳ something. You look⟳ like⟳ you've been whipped with a ugly stick⟳.”

“Catfish must have⟳ been: a. Hit with the ugly stick⟳. b. Run⟳ over by the ugly truck. c. Behind the door when they passed out good looks. d. Given ugly pills.”

“[I]t occurred to me that it would make⟳ everyone's life easier if he had some incentive to behave himself. This would comprise, for instance, not muttering "He was touched by the ugly stick⟳" in a voodoo accent when passing one of God's unfortunates in the street; […]”

“The guy was so ugly he looked like⟳ he'd been whopped with an ugly stick⟳.”

“I tell⟳ you what else ought to be outlawed in our school. J.H. Henry and his hair. He looks like⟳ he has been severely beaten with the wrong end⟳ of an ugly stick⟳.”

“No, I was scared of the superficial kind [of ugliness] vilified in playground chants: "fell from a tree and got beaten by an ugly stick⟳ on the way down." Ugliness seemed like⟳ a scarlet letter—if just one person described you as such, you'd wear⟳ the U for eternity, doomed to a life of insults, ostracization, and friendships with donkeys (Source: Shrek).”

CEFR level