never give a sucker an even break


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 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