hook, line and sinker
Believed it all
Hook, line and sinker means completely and without reservation, typically describing how thoroughly someone was deceived or how fully they accepted something: She fell for his story hook, line and sinker.
The phrase comes from fishing—a fish so eager it swallows not just the baited hook but the line and weight too.
It emphasizes gullibility or total commitment: He bought the conspiracy theory hook, line and sinker.
- bought itSlang for died
- completelyTo the fullest extent
- credulityUncritical acceptance of claims
- taken at face valueBelieved without deeper analysis
- easy markReadily deceived person
bait · tackle · lure · bobber · reel · reel them in · net · chum · persuasion · sucker punch · casting · suggestibility · gullibility · bamboozled · hoodwinked · duped · taken for a ride · angler
hook, line and sinkerwith a grain of salt
With reserved belief
skeptically · guardedly · cautiously · doubtfully · incredulously
hook, line and sinkercritically
With serious judgment
questioningly · analytically · knowingly · clear-eyed · not buying it
sinker, hooks, hooked, hooking, hooker, lines, lined, lining, liner