Definition of bait - Reverso English Dictionary
Noun
1.
fishing huntingfood used to attract fish or other animals
- He put worms on the hook as bait.
2.
enticementsomething that lures or entices someone
- The promise of money was just bait.
3.
pest controlRare food with poison to kill pestsRare
- They set out bait to get rid of the rats.
4.
- That comment was just bait to start an argument.
Verb
1.
behaviortr. deliberately annoy or taunt someonetr.
- He would bait his younger brother until he cried..
2.
huntingtr. lure or entice someone or something into a traptr.
- They used cheese to bait the mouse trap..
3.
fishingtr./intr. place food or lure on a hook or trap to attract animalstr./intr.
- He baited the hook with a worm.
4.
dog attacktr. Dated UK set dogs on an animaltr. Dated UK
- They baited the bear with their hounds.
Images of bait

food used to attract fish or other animals 
something that lures or entices someone 
food with poison to kill pests
Expressions with bait
💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
react when tempted or provoked, often by accepting eagerly
He rose to the bait and argued back.
respond to a provocation or temptation in the expected or desired way
He took the bait and angrily replied to the email.
fall for a trick or deception
He was too smart to bite the bait this time.
abandon an effort to pursue another
She chose to cut bait and start a new project.
show slight interest in an offer or idea
The investors began to nibble at the bait of the new proposal.
accept a deception or trick
He swallowed the bait and believed the fake news.
sales tactic luring customers to pricier items
The store's bait and switch tactic frustrated many customers.
entice someone into a situation or action
She baited up the crowd with promises of free gifts.
living animals used to attract and catch fish
He used live bait to catch a big bass.
utilize something to lure or trap someone
She used a fake offer as bait to catch the thief.
advertising a cheap product to attract customers
The store was accused of bait advertising.
content designed to attract clicks and shares
The article was pure link bait, designed to go viral.
fishing technique using a rod and reel
He mastered bait casting to catch bigger fish.
make a decision or start doing something without delay
It's time to fish or cut bait and choose a plan.
Origin of bait
Old Norse, beita (to cause to bite)
Terms with bait included in their meaning
💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.
angling equipment
cord used to attach bait, sometimes with leader, float, sinker, hook
fishing
instance of a fish taking bait
fishing
earthworm used as bait by anglers
fishing
worm used as bait by anglers
hunting
use a decoy or bait to attract prey
fishing sport
catching fish with a rod, line, hook, and bait or lure
recreation
fishing by letting the bait drift with the current
angling
artificial bait used to attract fish
fishing
worm used as bait by anglers
bait strategy
method to lure someone into a trap
sports
fishing that uses artificial flies as bait
fishing
type of fishing bait designed to attract fish
fishing
fish for small freshwater game fish with rod and bait
entomology
insect similar to dobsonfly, used as fishing bait
fishing
fish that tends to take bait
fake bait
fishing lure resembling a frog
fishing bait
mixture of fish parts used as bait
fishing
use bait to attract fish
fishing
catch a fish with bait
fishing
lob-worm used as bait
criminal bait
accomplice acting as bait
fishing
bait used in fishing
animal
fish in the Dorosomatinae subfamily, often used as fishing bait
fishing
small fish used as bait in fishing
Examples of bait in a sentence
The hunter set the bait to catch the rabbit. The bait was irresistible to the fish. He used compliments as bait to gain trust. The farmer used bait to control the mice. They placed bait in the garden to catch the pests. His tweet was pure bait to incite reactions.
The forum post was obvious bait to provoke the community. She would bait her friend with teasing remarks. They tried to bait him into a fight. He tried to bait the dog with a treat. They bait the fish with worms. The fisherman baited the trap to catch crabs. She baited the line carefully before casting it into the sea. The hunters baited the fox with their dogs. They used the hounds to bait the wild boar.
View all translations of bait
Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
- French:appât, agacer, ...
- German:Köder, ärgern, ...
- Italian:esca, stuzzicare, ...
- Spanish:cebo, provocar, ...
- Portuguese:isca, irritar, ...
- Chinese:诱饵, 挑衅, ...
- Japanese:餌, からかう, ...
- Arabic:طُعْم, نَاكَف, ...
- Hebrew:פִּתְיוֹן, לְהִתְגָּרוֹת בְּ, ...
- Russian:приманка, дразнить, ...
- Ukrainian:приманка, провокувати, ...
- Hindi:चारा, चिढ़ाना, ...

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