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Son of a gun

Son of a gun

Meaning

A rogue.

Examples

He was always up to mischief at school – the real class son of a gun.

Where did it originate?

Coined in the 1800s, in either the USA or Britain – no one is sure about the origin.

Where is it used?

Worldwide, but rather old-fashioned.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Son of a gun

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