fish-hook

A fish-hook is caught in the fisherman's thumb.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A barbed hook for catching fish: a curved or angled piece of metal, typically with a sharp point and a barb, used to catch fish by being attached to a line and baited or used with a lure.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He carefully tied the fish-hook to the end of his fishing line. (The hook used to catch fish.)
  • The fish-hook got caught in the weeds at the bottom of the lake. (The hook became entangled in underwater plants.)

Advanced Usage

• "to swallow the fish-hook": to be completely deceived or tricked, especially in a scheme or con.

  • The investor swallowed the fish-hook and lost all his money. (He fell for the scam entirely.)

• "to have a fish-hook in one's mouth": to be in a position of being forced to comply or unable to escape a situation.

  • Once he signed the contract, he had a fish-hook in his mouth and had to follow all terms. (He was trapped by the agreement.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fishhook (n): alternative spelling of fish-hook, meaning the same object.

  • He bought a set of fishhooks for his fishing trip. (Another way to write fish-hook.)

• Hook (n): a curved piece of metal or other hard material for catching or hanging things; a broader term that includes fish-hooks.

  • She hung her coat on a hook by the door. (A general hook, not specifically for fishing.)

Synonyms

• Angle: a fish-hook, especially one used in angling.
• Barb: the sharp backward-pointing part of a fish-hook; sometimes used metonymically for the hook itself.

Phrasal Verbs (None directly related to fish-hook)

Related Idioms

• "to swallow the fish-hook": to be completely deceived or tricked.

  • She swallowed the fish-hook and believed his lies. (She was fully deceived.)

• "to bait the fish-hook": to prepare a trap or scheme to attract someone.

  • The scammer baited the fish-hook with promises of easy money. (He set up the deception.)