hook line and sinker
Swallowed it whole
To swallow something hook, line, and sinker is to accept it completely and uncritically, like a fish that takes not just the baited hook but the line and weight attached to it.
The phrase almost always describes being deceived: She fell for his story hook, line, and sinker.
Occasionally it just means wholeheartedly: He bought into the philosophy hook, line, and sinker.
- dupedDeceived into believing
- gullibleEasily deceived
- bought itSlang for died
- baitLure for prey
- bamboozledThoroughly deceived or confused
fell for it · hoodwinked · taken in · taken for a ride · persuasion · credulity · lure · naivety · easy mark · swindled · conned · sucker · swallowed · swallowed whole · angler · tricked · blind trust · trust
hook line and sinkerwith a grain of salt
With reserved belief
skeptically · doubtfully · incredulously · not buying it · half-heartedly
sinker, hooks, hooked, hooking, lines, lined, lining, liner, liners