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+1 for sore thumb and noticeable, though the latter isn't idiomatic. Marked man implies the man so marked is due to be the target of an already-planned attack, it has nothing to do with how noticeable a person is in general.
– talrnu
Commented Aug 8, 2017 at 16:29
1

@talrnu I'm not entirely sure "marked man" isn't also used to refer to someone who has become infamous among law enforcement or a community in general, ex. "I can't go back there. I'm a marked man!" This would probably imply an outstanding arrest warrant, but it might just mean the person is wanted for questioning or otherwise targeted for surveillance.
– Darren Ringer
Commented Aug 8, 2017 at 19:27
Literally speaking, it's a man with a mark - that mark could be anything.
– marcellothearcane
Commented Aug 8, 2017 at 19:31
1

@marcellothearcane It's an idiom, by definition it's not intended to be taken literally - its meaning comes from usage. Historically it's been used to describe someone who's about to be hurt or killed. It can also be used metaphorically, as Darren suggests, to describe someone as a pariah, and it's possible the prevalence of this metaphor is creeping in as an actual alternate definition of the idiom. I'll concede therefore that it fits, but only barely - it requires actual infamy, and not merely being particularly noticeable.
– talrnu
Commented Aug 8, 2017 at 20:06
@talrnu 'it requires actual infamy, and not merely being particularly noticeable' - I completely agree.
– marcellothearcane
Commented Aug 8, 2017 at 20:24

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