easy mark

Thân thiện

A con artist targets an easy mark in the crowded market.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A defenseless victim; a person who is easily deceived, cheated, or taken advantage of: An "easy mark" refers to someone who is particularly vulnerable, gullible, or susceptible to being targeted by dishonest people, such as con artists or swindlers.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The con artist scanned the crowd, looking for an easy mark.
  • Tourists unfamiliar with local scams are often seen as easy marks by pickpockets.
  • Because he was too trusting, he became an easy mark for the fraudulent investment scheme.

Advanced Usage

• "to be an easy mark for (something)": To be particularly susceptible to a specific type of deception or exploitation.
  • Elderly individuals living alone are often an easy mark for phone scammers.
• Used informally, often in contexts involving crime, trickery, or unfair advantage.

Variants and Related Words

• Mark (n., informal): In criminal slang, a "mark" is the intended victim of a swindle or con game. "Easy mark" is a specific compound of this term.
• Sitting duck (n., idiom): Another term for a vulnerable or easy target.
• Pushover (n.): A person who is easily defeated or persuaded.

Synonyms

• Dupe: A person who is easily deceived or fooled.
• Sucker (informal): A gullible person.
• Patsy (informal): A person who is easily taken advantage of or blamed.

Related Idioms

• Like taking candy from a baby: An idiom describing something very easy to do, often unethically, similar to exploiting an "easy mark."
  • Selling him that broken car was like taking candy from a baby.

Học thuật

Noun

1. a defenseless victim

Từ đồng nghĩa

• sitting duck