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sucker list

American  

noun

Informal.
  1. a list of names and addresses of persons considered by a business, charity organization, etc., to be likely purchasers or donors.


sucker list Idioms  
  1. 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]


Etymology

Origin of sucker list

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Answering the phone when scam artists call can put you on a “sucker list” that will prompt more calls.

From Washington Times

The movie was called “Sucker List.”

From Seattle Times

This was called lead generation, and it professionalized the sucker list.

From Seattle Times

Once people appear on a “sucker list” as having responded to a fraudulent call or mailing, con artists will pursue them.

From New York Times

It is a ‘sucker list’—the names of stock biters and the price per bite.

From Project Gutenberg