noun
mark
A person chosen as a target for deception.
The scammer chooses a wealthy tourist as his next mark.
Etymology
A mark can be a target singled out for attention. Criminal slang applies that targeting idea to the person selected for a swindle.
More examples
- Con artists look for marks who seem eager to invest.
- She pretends to be a banker to gain her mark's trust.
- He realizes he is the mark and hangs up.
Forms
mark · marks