bait

Food or another substance used to attract fish or animals so they can be caught.

• Put some bait on the hook.
• The fish ignored our bait.
• We used cheese as bait for the mice.

Similar words: lure

Common phrases: live bait, fishing bait, bait on something

Something attractive offered to make people interested or persuade them to do something.

• The prize was just bait.
• They used cheap tickets as bait to attract visitors.
• She refused to take the bait and sign up.

How to use it: bait for someone (The free trial was bait for new customers.)

Similar words: lure, enticement

Common phrases: use as bait, bait for someone, tempting bait

An online message designed to make people react strongly, especially with anger.

• That post is obvious bait.
• Do not reply to his bait in the comments.
• The moderators removed several pieces of racist bait.

Similar words: rage bait

Common phrases: obvious bait, post bait, ignore the bait

To put food or another attractant on a hook or in a trap to catch animals.

• He baited the trap.
• We baited our hooks with small pieces of fish.
• Have you baited the mouse trap yet?

How to use it: bait something with something (She baited the hook with a worm.)

Common phrases: bait a hook, bait a trap, bait something with

To attract an animal or person by offering something they want.

• They baited the animals with food.
• The hunters baited deer near the clearing.
• The scheme baits customers with promises of quick profits.

How to use it: bait someone/something with something (They baited the fox with scraps of meat.)

Similar words: lure, entice

Common phrases: bait an animal, bait someone with

To make dogs attack an animal, especially as a form of entertainment.

• They used dogs to bait bears.
• The chained bull was baited before a crowd.
• Laws were passed to stop people baiting animals.

How to use it: bait an animal with dogs (People once baited bulls with dogs for entertainment.)

Common phrases: bait a bear, bait a bull, bait with dogs