underestimate

no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of...

The full saying is "No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people/public," or some variation thereof, meaning that people being swindled won't realize or question it, which makes them a prime source of income for others. It is typically attributed to writer H.L. Mencken. A: "We can't sell this shoddy product to people!" B: "Oh please, no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people."
See also: broke, ever, no, one, underestimate

no one ever went broke underestimating the taste of...

The full saying is "No one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public," or some variation thereof, meaning that people will gladly accept something lowbrow or inferior, which makes them a prime source of income for others. It is typically attributed to writer H.L. Mencken. A: "We can't pitch this script to the studio—it's truly awful!" B: "Oh please, no one ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public!"
See also: broke, ever, no, one, taste, underestimate
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of...
  • come from far and wide
  • chief
  • (there are) too many chiefs and not enough Indians
  • along the beaten track
  • beaten
  • a couple of (people or things)
  • couple
  • couple of
  • big and bold
References in periodicals archive
"While previous studies have shown that parents and adolescents often underestimate weight status, we were surprised that in this population, where the adolescents were generally very overweight and already had type 2 diabetes, underestimation of weight status was still very common," Dr.
Viewing the uncalibrated drapes first produced greater underestimates of blood loss that worsened with larger volumes of blood loss, reported Dr.
Our assumption that each Hazmat worker has 4 productive hours of work per day underestimates the rate that could be achieved over a several-week time frame but is prudent over a longer period of time and would help avoid worker fatigue and burnout.
Unfortunately, this recommendation was never implemented and, consequently, we continue to grossly underestimate the number of drowning deaths in America.
Derry are always difficult opponents - home or away and whether they're playing well or not - so we mustn't underestimate them."
Individuals usually underestimate known risks, such as vehicle accidents, but often overestimate individual risk when it involves unknown types--the "devils we don't know." The D.C.-area sniper incident last year was a largely unknown and unfamiliar risk.
His research indicates most buyers tend to underestimate how much they will use a service, so it's more economical to pay more up front and pay less per use.
* "We must never underestimate the power of the Internet.
We certainly don't underestimate the major strides neuroscience research has made in recent years in understanding the processes underlying cognition and emotions, but we also don't underestimate the far greater distance that remains to be traveled.
(Don't underestimate the lure of free tickets: In 1999, congressional ethics committees decided that the $98 club seats at Washington's MCI Center--home to the NBA's Wizards and NHL's Capitals--could be "reinterpreted" to cost $49.50 if lawmakers forfeited parking and waitress service, so that lobbyists could slip them tickets without running afoul of the $50 cap on gifts to congressmen.)
A negative difference score indicates a student underestimate relative to the instructor's perception.
One is the change at the level of rhetoric, and one must never underestimate the importance of rhetoric.
TELECOMWORLDWIRE-6 October 2000-Small firms underestimate the costs and benefits of having a web site (C)1994-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com
That lowered the amount of radiation reflected up to the imaging satellite, leading to the underestimate of foliage.
We shouldn't underestimate the fact that most of these artists' parents and grandparents knew life only under Hitler, Stalin, and their legacies.