sucker
Related to sucker: gloating, onboard, marking, misconception
a sucker for (someone or something)
Someone who tends to be easily attracted to a particular type of person or thing. What can I say—I'm a sucker for romantic comedies! I've always been a sucker for a guy with a six pack.
See also: sucker
cocksucker
1. vulgar slang One who performs fellatio. A homophobic slur often used to show general disdain for a male, regardless of his sexual orientation.
2. vulgar slang A male who is apt to engage in obesequious flattery. Of course that guy went along with the CEO's stupid idea—he's a real cocksucker.
dicksucker
vulgar slang One who performs fellatio. A homophobic slur often used to show general disdain for a male, regardless of his sexual orientation.
egg-sucker
noun Someone who seeks out the approval, attention, and/or support of others, especially superiors, through abject subservience, flattery, or fawning. Tim is such an obvious egg-sucker, always complementing the boss on her ideas and saying yes to anything she suggests.
never give a sucker an even break
If someone can be easily swindled, you should do what you can to take advantage of them. Sure, the boat ride down the river is pretty overpriced for what you get, but if the tourists are still willing to pay it, then why change it? Never give a sucker an even break, that's what I say.
See also: break, even, give, never, sucker
never give a sucker an even chance
If someone can be easily swindled, you should do what you can to take advantage of them. Sure, the boat ride down the river is pretty overpriced for what you get, but if the tourists are still willing to pay it, then why change it? Never give a sucker an even chance, that's what I say.
See also: chance, even, give, never, sucker
play (one) for a sucker
To consider or treat one as stupid, naïve, or gullible and try to exploit it. I know you’ve been spending time with that woman again—don't play me for a sucker! I can't believe I let them play me for a sucker. I should have known the deal was too good to be true.
See also: play, sucker
sucker
1. noun The organ or structure on certain animals that is used to cling to objects through suction or withdraw nourishment by sucking. I don't know why, but the suckers on the arms of octopi give me the absolute creeps. The leeches drink blood through their suckers.
2. noun, slang Someone who is extremely foolish, gullible, and easily duped. The used car salesman could see a sucker coming from a mile away. All we need is some sucker who's willing to invest his money in our bogus company.
3. noun, slang Someone who tends to be easily entertained by or attracted to a particular type of person or thing. What can I say—I'm a sucker for romantic comedies! I've always been a sucker for guys with six packs.
4. noun, slang A generalized term of reference for any unspecified person or thing. Usually used to imply some intense, impressive, or remarkable trait. You see this computer chip? This little sucker's worth more money than your whole house! I don't know how we're going to haul that sucker up the stairs. The guy we hired for protection is a tough sucker, so I'm not too worried about anyone trying to hassle us.
5. verb, slang To trick, dupe, or con (someone); to make a sucker out of (someone). Usually followed by "into something." I can't believe they suckered me into investing my life savings! The sleazy car dealership uses attractive, smooth-talking young women to sucker you into buying more expensive models of cars.
sucker (one) in
To con, swindle, or deceive someone. The get-rich-quick guru suckered in tens of thousands of people for nearly $3 million, almost all of which is still unaccounted for by authorities. I can't believe you let that sleazy sales rep suck you in like that—you didn't even want a new television!
See also: sucker
sucker (one) into (doing something)
To con, swindle, or deceive one into doing something. I can't believe he suckered me into paying for those extra features—they're totally worthless! There have been reports of an increase in the number of scammers pretending to be bank officials in order to sucker customers into revealing their personal details over the phone.
See also: sucker
sucker (one) into (something)
slang To trick, dupe, or con one into doing something or becoming involved in something. I can't believe they suckered me into investing my life savings! The sleazy car dealership uses attractive, smooth-talking young women to sucker you into buying more expensive models of cars. He suckered his opponent into an argument about climate change, which he knew he could easily win.
See also: sucker
sucker list
A list of people who have been solicited to or fallen victim to fraud successfully in the past, used as a reference point for future solicitations or scams. The service is giving an online seminar for ways to stay off of scammers' sucker lists. I must be on some charity sucker list or something—I made one donation last Christmas, and now I'm being asked to give money by dozens of different charities across the country.
See also: list, sucker
sucker punch
1. noun A punch dealt when the other person isn't looking or prepared. I knew I was a match for the guy, but he landed a sucker punch after his friend distracted me. The fighter was thrown out of the boxing league for landing a sucker punch on his opponent after the round ended.
2. noun Any defeat or setback that was particularly unexpected and damaging. The hidden recordings of the mayor's backdoor meetings with industry lobbyists has been a sucker punch to her re-election campaign. These interest rate hikes are just the latest in a series of sucker punches to homeowners struggling to meet their mortgage payments and keep their homes in the struggling economy.
3. verb To throw or land a punch dealt when the other person isn't looking or prepared. Sometimes hyphenated. The guy sucker punched Alex when he turned to go to the bathroom, putting him in a coma. If sucker-punching your opponent is what you consider a manly way of dealing with a dispute, then you have no concept of what real masculinity is.
See also: punch, sucker
there's a sucker born every minute
There is always someone willing or able to be swindled or deceived. The phrase is usually attributed to American showman P.T. Barnum. Any time I see a ridiculous product for sale, I remind myself that there's a sucker born every minute. The only reason he has a following is because there's a sucker born every minute. No rational person would think he knows what he's talking about!
See also: born, every, minute, sucker
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
sucker for someone or something
someone who is prejudiced in favor of someone or something; someone who is drawn to someone or something. I'm a sucker for a pretty face. Ted is a sucker for any dessert with whipped cream on it. I don't know why I volunteered for this job. I'm a sucker for punishment I guess.
See also: sucker
sucker list
Fig. a list of potential dupes; a list of people who might be taken in by deception. I'm sure on their sucker list. They are trying to get me to give a lecture and receive a free clock or something. Here's the sucker list. Call them all and try to get them interested.
See also: list, sucker
sucker someone into something
and sucker someone inSl. to deceive someone into some sort of scam or confidence game; to play someone for a fool. Surely you don't think you can sucker me into doing something as stupid as that, do you? The con artist suckered in an unsuspecting tourist.
See also: sucker
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
never give a sucker an even break
Don't allow a person who's easily duped a fair chance, as in He's always trying to give out expired coupons for his store, firmly believing in never giving a sucker an even break . Probably a direct quotation, it has been attributed to showman P. T. Barnum (responsible for the oft-quoted "There's a sucker born every minute"); and comedian W. C. Fields (who popularized it in one of his films); and theater manager Edward Francis Albee, the most probable of the three. [Slang; early 1900s]
See also: break, even, give, never, sucker
sucker list
A list of names of likely prospects for making purchases or donations, as in Some charities raise money by selling their sucker lists to other organizations. This term uses sucker in the sense of "dupe," a usage that in turn alludes to the naiveté of a baby suckling at its mother's breast. [Colloquial; 1940s]
See also: list, sucker
sucker punch
An unexpected blow, as in They felt that suddenly raising the interest rate was a sucker punch to the administration. This expression comes from boxing, where it is used for a punch delivered unexpectedly; boxing great Jack Dempsey wrote, "The right lead [for a right-handed boxer] is called a sucker punch." [Slang; mid-1900s]
See also: punch, sucker
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
there's a sucker born every minute
AMERICAN, INFORMALPeople say there's a sucker born every minute to mean that someone has just done something stupid, especially that they have been tricked. This is an industry secure in the knowledge that there's a sucker born every minute.
See also: born, every, minute, sucker
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
sucker into
v.
To cause someone to do or believe something by deceptive or fraudulent means: The con artist tried to sucker me into revealing my credit card number.
See also: sucker
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
cocksucker
1. n. a male who performs fellatio (licking and sucking of the penis). (see also dick-sucker. Also a provocative term of address. Rude and derogatory.) There is one question I’ve always wanted to ask a cocksucker, but I have never had the chance.
2. n. a low and despicable male; a male who is despicable enough to perform fellatio. (Rude, provocative, and derogatory.) You rotten cocksucker! I ought to punch you in the face.
3. n. a male who performs oral sex on a woman. (In southern parts of the country, cock = female genitals.) I don’t care if he’s a cocksucker, as long as he loves his mother.
4. n. an obsequious and flattering male; a male sycophant. (Rude and derogatory.) Why doesn’t that stupid cocksucker talk straight. He’s always trying to butter somebody up.
dick-sucker
1. n. a male who performs fellatio. (Rude and derogatory.) In the bar, this dick-sucker came up and wanted to know my sign.
2. n. a low and despicable male; a male who is despicable enough to perform fellatio. (Rude and derogatory.) You slimy dick-sucker. I’ll get you for this.
egg-sucker
n. a flatterer; a sycophant. The guy is a chronic egg-sucker. Ignore him.
sucker
1. and sucka n. a dupe; an easy mark. See if you can sell that sucker the Brooklyn Bridge.
2. tv. to trick or victimize someone. That crook suckered me. I should have known better.
3. n. an annoying person. (Also a rude term of address.) I am really sick of that sucker hanging around here.
4. n. a gadget; a thing. Now, you put this little sucker right into this slot.
sucker for someone or something
n. someone who is prejudiced in favor of someone or something. Ted is a sucker for any dessert with whipped cream on it.
See also: someone, something, sucker
sucker list
n. a list of potential dupes; a list of people who might be taken in by deception. I’m sure on their sucker list. They are trying to get me to go to a lecture and receive a free clock or something.
See also: list, sucker
sucker someone into something
and sucker someone in tv. to deceive someone into some sort of scam or confidence game; to play someone for a fool. Surely you don’t think you can sucker me into doing something as stupid as that, do you? I’m too smart. You can’t sucker me in!
See also: someone, something, sucker
sucker someone in
verbSee sucker someone into something
See also: someone, sucker
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- a sucker for (someone or something)
- sucker for
- sucker for someone or something
- the last person
- be walking on eggshells
- hard head
- a hard head
- schlemiel
- schlemihl
- shlemiel