Bait

Bait refers to a substance, typically food or other attractive material, used to lure animals or people into a trap, or to entice someone into a desired action or situation. It can also describe something used to intentionally provoke or tease someone, often with the aim of eliciting a reaction. The term highlights the deceptive nature of attracting something toward a specific end, whether it's catching fish, setting a trap, or manipulating someone's emotions or actions.

Bait meaning with examples

• The fisherman cast his line, using a wriggling worm as bait to attract the trout. His hope was that the trout would take the bait and he would then successfully catch the fish to eat for dinner. The worm was moving a lot to encourage the trout and make the fisherman more effective.
• The detective used a fake classified ad as bait to lure the suspect into a meeting at a public place to arrest the criminal and obtain a confession. The fake advertisement proved to be valuable for apprehending the criminal.
• The online scammer used a phishing email as bait, offering a free gift card to entice people to click a link. The victims would provide their banking details and suffer an account loss. Many people are deceived and robbed of their finances.
• The comedian used self-deprecating humor as bait to engage the audience and build a rapport. His jokes worked, which allowed him to connect with his audience and build trust. He kept them in stitches of laughter and they clapped for his jokes.
• During the schoolyard argument, the bully's insults served as bait to provoke a fight and incite a reaction from the victim. The situation quickly escalated and led to a huge argument and an incident that involved many people.