Dictionary

live one en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈlaɪv wʌn/

Etymology

Possibly an allusion to hooking a particularly lively fish on a fishing line.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, informal) Someone who is easily fooled, victimized, or ridiculed.
   • There's green as in greenhorn, meaning inexperienced and gullible. Those with a pitch to sell are going to spot a live one—in this case government with dollars practically falling out of its pockets—coming from miles away. 2009 January 7, Bill Virgin, “In 2009, it's all about green”, in Seattle Post-Intelligencer, USA, retrieved 03 Feb 2009:
2. (idiomatic, informal) Someone who is eccentric, nonconformist, or otherwise peculiar.
   • They've got a live one in the crowd, he's scary, he looks dangerous, demon possessed, he doesn't know who he is, he speaks in strange voices. 1997 September 13, Charles Placker, “Ministry of happiness denies the crucifixion”, in The Victoria Advocate, Texas, USA, retrieved 03 Feb 2009, page 3D:
   • We've got a live one. Kim Howells burst on to the scene last week with his first foray into university politics as higher education minister. The man best known for labelling the Turner Prize "conceptual bullshit" was not sounding very on-message. In a departure from his prepared speech on the launch of an NUS information campaign for would-be students, Howells started, well, rambling. 2004 September 28, Polly Curtis, “HE Diary: Howells has landed”, in guardian.co.uk, retrieved 03 Feb 2009:
3. (idiomatic, informal) A person, thing, or situation which is particularly interesting, noteworthy, or urgent.
   • "We got a live one here," he said as he speeds up in pursuit of a car. 2007 January 2, Tom Lawrence, “Area DUI crack down reduces arrests”, in Black Hills Pioneer, USA: South Dakota, retrieved 03 Feb 2009:

Forms

Synonyms

real McCoy (thing, or situation which is particularly interesting, noteworthy, or urgent) · nut · chump (someone easily fooled or victimized) · oddball · head case (someone who is eccentric or peculiar) · weirdo · sucker · kook · mark · patsy · dupe