bait
Noun:
- Something used to lure animals: A substance or object used to attract and trap fish, animals, or pests.
- An enticement or temptation: Anything used to attract or tempt someone into a particular situation, often a deceptive or dangerous one.
Verb:
- To place bait on a trap or hook: To put food or a lure on a device to catch animals.
- To lure or entice: To deliberately attract or tempt someone, often into a trap or unfavorable situation.
- To harass or tease persistently: To torment or provoke someone with repeated criticism or mockery.
Noun:
- The fisherman used a worm as bait.
- The low price was just bait to get customers into the store.
Verb:
- He baited the hook with a piece of shrimp.
- The advertisement baited people with promises of easy money.
- The older kids baited the new student until he got angry.
"To rise to the bait": To react exactly as someone hoped or provoked you to, especially by becoming angry or taking an argumentative action.
- He made a rude comment, hoping I would argue, but I refused to rise to the bait.
"Cut bait": To stop doing something; to give up on an activity. Often used in the phrase "fish or cut bait," meaning to either act decisively or stop altogether.
- After years of failed attempts, he decided to cut bait and pursue a different career.
Bait-and-switch (n): A deceptive sales tactic where a customer is attracted by an advertised product (the bait) that is then unavailable, and a more expensive item is offered instead (the switch).
- The store was accused of a bait-and-switch scheme.
Baiting (gerund/n): The action of using bait or harassing someone.
- Bear baiting is an illegal and cruel sport.
- Noun: Lure, enticement, decoy, trap.
- Verb: Lure, entice, tempt; harass, tease, torment, provoke.
- Bait out (informal): To provoke someone into revealing information or reacting.
- The journalist tried to bait out a confession from the politician.
Fish or cut bait: Make a decision to either proceed with an activity or quit it entirely; stop delaying.
- We need a decision now. It's time to fish or cut bait.
Take the bait: To accept an offer or suggestion that is actually a trap; to fall for a trick.
- The scammer sent a fake email, and unfortunately, many people took the bait.
- something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed
- anything that serves as an enticement
- attack with dogs or set dogs upon
- lure, entice, or entrap with bait
- harass with persistent criticism or carping
- The children teased the new teacher
- Don't ride me so hard over my failure
- His fellow workers razzed him when he wore a jacket and tie