took the bait
Swallowed the hook
Took the bait means fell for a trick or provocation, responding exactly as someone hoped.
The image is of a fish biting a baited hook.
Someone who takes the bait accepts a lure—whether a scam, a taunt, or a trap: He knew she was trying to make him jealous, but he took the bait anyway.
The phishing email looked legitimate, and three employees took the bait.
- hook line and sinkerCompletely and without reservation
- gullibilityEase of being deceived
- hookCurved catching device
- sinkerWeight on fishing line
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
fell for it · con artist · mistake · ruse · manipulation · hoax · ploy · scheme · sucker · easy mark · deceit · vulnerability · line · set a trap · temptation · false promise · entrapment · persuasion