taking the bait
Swallowing the lure
Taking the bait is responding to a provocation exactly as the provocateur intended.
The image is from fishing—a fish that takes the bait gets hooked.
Someone who takes the bait falls for a trap, often by getting angry or defensive when they should have ignored the taunt: Don't respond to the troll—you're just taking the bait.
The phrase implies the target could have recognized and avoided the manipulation but didn't.
- bitePierce with teeth
- strikeForceful impact or stoppage
- hook line and sinkerCompletely and without reservation
- pullForce toward oneself
- catchSeize or snag
honeytrap · gullibility · mousetrap · lure · set the trap · susceptibility · easy mark · hook · entrapment · falling for it · trap · deception · ruse · ploy · too good to be true · sucker · fishing · enticement