soft target
soft target — noun
1. a person, place, or group that is not well protected and therefore easy for an e
a person, place, or group that is not well protected and therefore easy for an enemy, criminal, or competitor to attack or take advantage of.
Police warned that unguarded schools could become soft targets for thieves during the holidays.
collocation: soft targets for [thieves/criminals]
After installing security cameras, the downtown office was no longer a soft target.
Small shops on quiet side streets are often seen as soft targets by armed robbers.
The charity's old warehouse became a soft target because its fence had a large gap.
Tourists who walk alone after dark can become soft targets for thieves.
- vulnerable target
more formal; emphasises weakness rather than ease of attack
- easy mark
informal; usually refers to a person who is easy to deceive or cheat
- sitting duck
informal idiom; describes someone in a completely defenceless position
- hard target
a well-fortified person or place that is difficult to attack
文法句型
soft target + for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common in discussions about security, crime prevention, and business competition. The opposite term is 'hard target'.