land shark
Ruthless real estate cheat
Land shark is informal for a swindler or predator who operates on land rather than at sea—especially a real estate speculator who preys on unsuspecting buyers, or historically, someone who exploited sailors in port towns.
The term plays on the shark's reputation as a ruthless hunter: Watch out for land sharks when buying property in that neighborhood.
In popular culture, it became a comedy catchphrase from a 1970s television sketch about a murderous shark knocking on apartment doors.
Fraud who deceives for profit
- swindlerPerson who deceives for money
- grifterPetty fraud perpetrator
- scammerOne who defrauds others
- charlatanFaker claiming false expertise
impostor · trickster · deceiver · shyster · mountebank · hustler · flimflam · bilker
Unpreyed-upon dominant hunter
- great whiteLarge predatory marine fish
- hammerheadShark with splayed head
- makoSwift mackerel shark
- jawsMouth's bony framework
teeth · fins · cartilage · gills · ambush · stalking · prey · feeding frenzy
Maryland town near Washington
- candygramDelivered sweets as greeting
- costumeClothing for portrayal
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- comedyWork meant to amuse
parody · Saturday Night Live · 1970s · door-to-door · disguise · catchphrase · fin · television
One who acts independently
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- speculatorOne wagering on outcomes
- flipperMarine animal's swimming limb
- developerOne who builds things
commission · closing · high-pressure · listing · property · pushy · salesperson · foreclosure
Habitual intimidator
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- overbearingArrogantly dominating in manner
forceful · threatening · pushy · relentless · tenacious · unscrupulous · predatory · ruthless
conman
Fraud who deceives for profit
charlatan · impostor · trickster · deceiver · shyster · mountebank · hustler · flimflam · bilker · cheat
apex predator
Unpreyed-upon dominant hunter
- great whiteLarge predatory marine fish
- hammerheadShark with splayed head
- makoSwift mackerel shark
jaws · teeth · fins · cartilage · gills · ambush · stalking · prey · feeding frenzy · territorial
Chevy Chase
Maryland town near Washington
comedy · parody · Saturday Night Live · 1970s · door-to-door · disguise · catchphrase · fin · television · skit
agent
One who acts independently
- brokerTransaction intermediary for hire
- speculatorOne wagering on outcomes
- flipperMarine animal's swimming limb
developer · commission · closing · high-pressure · listing · property · pushy · salesperson · foreclosure · predatory
bully
Habitual intimidator
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- menacingConveying threat or danger
overbearing · forceful · threatening · pushy · relentless · tenacious · unscrupulous · predatory · ruthless · cutthroat
land sharkhonest broker
Impartial third-party negotiator
straight shooter · philanthropist · benefactor · pro bono lawyer · housing advocate
land sharkinnocent bystander
Uninvolved person harmed incidentally
easy mark · lamb · sitting duck · pushover · gentle soul
land, shark, lands, landed, landing, landless, landlord, landmark, landscape