bait

 
Pronunciation: /beɪt/

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] food placed on a hook or in a net, trap, or fishing area to entice fish or other animals as prey: herrings make excellent bait for pike [count noun]: fishing with live baits
  • something intended to entice someone to do something: many potential buyers are reluctant to take the bait

verb

[with object]
  • 1deliberately annoy or taunt (someone): the other boys revelled in baiting him about his love of literature
  • cause dogs to attack (a trapped or restrained animal): people who bait badgers
  • 2put bait on (a hook) or in (a trap, net, or fishing area) to entice fish or animals: I used a hook baited with fat

Phrases

fish or cut bait

North American informal stop vacillating and decide to act on or disengage from something: when it comes to flagging brands, companies are being forced to fish or cut bait

rise to the bait

react to a provocation or temptation exactly as intended: Jenny was being provocatively rude, but he never rose to the bait

Derivatives

baiter

noun

Origin:

Middle English: from Old Norse beit 'pasture, food', beita 'to hunt or chase'