bait
noun/beɪt/
/beɪt/
[uncountable, countable]- food put on a hook to catch fish or in nets, traps, etc. to catch animals or birds
- Live worms are used as bait.
- The fish took the bait.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- fresh
- live
- dangle
- put out
- set out
- …
- a person or thing that is used to attract somebody in order to catch them or make them do what you want
- The police used him as bait to trap the killers.
- He had chosen the right bait to persuade her to go.
Extra Examples- We hope that potential investors will take the bait.
- We'll put out the bait and see what happens.
- She covered her face and began to sob, but I wouldn't rise to the bait.
- The player was unable to resist the bait dangled in front of him by United.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- fresh
- live
- dangle
- put out
- set out
- …
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old Norse beit ‘pasture, food’, beita ‘to hunt or chase’.
Check pronunciation:
bait