take the bait
Swallow the lure
To take the bait is to respond to a provocation or enticement exactly as someone intended, falling for a trap or manipulation.
From fishing, where fish bite the baited hook.
The phrase usually implies the person should have known better: Don't take the bait—he's just trying to make you angry.
She took the bait and revealed exactly what they wanted to know.
Device for catching animals
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- dupedDeceived into believing
- deceivedMisled into false belief
- fooledLed to believe falsely
tricked · swindled · conned · scammed · manipulated · gullible · sucker · fall for it
Thing that tempts
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- allurementQuality that attracts
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
- enticingPowerfully attractive
inducement · hook · carrot · irresistible · provocation · tantalize · tease · dangle
trap
Device for catching animals
fooled · tricked · swindled · conned · scammed · manipulated · gullible · sucker · fall for it · hoodwinked
lure
Thing that tempts
- temptationUrge toward the unwise
- allurementQuality that attracts
- seductionEnticing someone romantically
enticing · inducement · hook · carrot · irresistible · provocation · tantalize · tease · dangle · appeal
provoked
Caused a reaction
triggered · antagonized · needled · instigated · agitated · heated · argued · escalate · snap · defensive
take the baitsmell a rat
Become suspicious of deceit
keep one's guard up · call the bluff · see it coming · wise up · stay alert
take the baitkeep one's cool
Maintain emotional control
turn the other cheek · walk away · hold one's tongue · bite one's lip · brush it off
take, bite, bait, taken, taking, overtake, takes, intake, undertaking