# live one

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/live-one
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Someone who is easily fooled, victimized, or ridiculed.

## Examples

- The scammer knew he had found a live one.
- The salesperson spotted the tourist looking lost and realized he had found a live one.
- The seasoned con artist scanned the crowded room, quickly identifying a live one who would likely fall for his elaborate scheme.

## Origin

The phrase is likely an allusion to the sensation of hooking a particularly lively fish on a fishing line. No specific dates or originators are recorded for the expression, which survives as a popular but unproven colloquialism. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.