bait
/beɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /beɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbāt/ (ame, mw)
bait — noun
- baitsingular
- baitsplural
1. something you put on a hook or inside a trap so that fish or wild animals come c
something you put on a hook or inside a trap so that fish or wild animals come close enough for you to catch them
Mei-Lin used a piece of cheese as bait to catch the mouse in her kitchen.
collocation: 'use something as bait'
The fisherman attached a small worm to his hook and cast the bait into the river.
Deepak checked the trap and found that the bait had been taken during the night.
Live shrimp make excellent bait for catching red snapper near the coast.
The bait in the cage was fresh fruit, meant to attract the wild boar.
- lure
a natural or artificial device that attracts fish or animals; lure is often artificial, while bait is often food
- decoy
a fake animal or object used to attract real animals into a trap
- enticement
more general and abstract; bait is specifically placed on a hook or in a trap
- repellent
something that drives animals away instead of attracting them
文法句型
use something as bait
bait for [animal]
常見錯誤
2. a remark, piece of information, or reward designed to provoke a specific reactio
a remark, piece of information, or reward designed to provoke a specific reaction from someone — for example, an insult meant to start a fight, or a cheap offer meant to attract customers
Omar knew the email was bait designed to make him say something he would regret.
idiom: 'take the bait' (react as intended)
The company offered free samples as bait to get customers into the store.
Luisa did not take the bait when her brother tried to start an argument at dinner.
The politician's remarks were bait for the media, and the journalists took it eagerly.
Cheap interest rates are bait that banks use to attract new borrowers.
- temptation
focuses on the desire for something; bait focuses on the intention of the person offering it
- lure
an attractive quality or offer; stronger implication of deception than bait
- provocation
specifically something said to anger someone; bait can also be positive
- enticement
something pleasant offered to persuade; bait can be either pleasant or unpleasant
- deterrent
something that discourages someone from acting
文法句型
take the bait
rise to the bait
bait for [person]
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrases 'take the bait' and 'rise to the bait,' meaning to react exactly as someone hoped you would. The listener can also 'refuse to take the bait' by ignoring the provocation.
常見錯誤
bait — verb
- baitpresent simple I / you / we / they
- baits3rd person singular
- baiting-ing form
- baitedpast simple
1. to say or do things deliberately to upset or irritate someone, especially to get
to say or do things deliberately to upset or irritate someone, especially to get a reaction out of them
Kofi's classmates continued to bait him with rude comments throughout the day.
pattern: 'bait [someone] with [something]'
The online troll posted hateful messages just to bait people into angry replies.
pattern: 'bait [someone] into [doing]'
Nora refused to let the customer's complaints bait her into losing her temper.
Some reporters deliberately bait public figures with personal questions.
Thomas felt his younger brother was trying to bait him by hiding his video games.
- provoke
broader; can be accidental or deliberate; bait always implies intention
- taunt
involves mocking or insulting; bait can use any annoying tactic
- antagonize
creates hostility; bait is often more playful or calculated
文法句型
bait [someone]
bait [someone] into [doing something]
用法筆記
Common in contexts where someone tries to trigger an emotional reaction — anger, frustration, or embarrassment — from another person. The target can 'refuse to be baited' by staying calm.
常見錯誤
2. to set dogs onto a trapped or chained animal as a form of entertainment or sport
to set dogs onto a trapped or chained animal as a form of entertainment or sport, now illegal in most countries
In the past, some landowners would bait bears with dogs for public amusement.
pattern: 'bait [animal] with [dogs]'
The historical practice of baiting bulls with dogs has long been banned in Britain.
Authorities arrested the men who were caught baiting badgers with dogs in the forest.
Animal rights groups campaign against the cruel sport of baiting wild animals.
- hound
means to chase or pursue; baiting specifically involves setting dogs on a confined animal
文法句型
bait [animal] with [dogs]
用法筆記
Now a historical usage, found mainly in discussions of animal cruelty laws, banned blood sports, and wildlife protection. Rare in modern everyday English.
3. to place something attractive onto a fishing hook or inside a trap so that fish
to place something attractive onto a fishing hook or inside a trap so that fish or animals are drawn toward it
Yuki carefully baited the fishing hook with a small piece of squid.
pattern: 'bait [hook] with [food]'
The farmer baited the rat traps with peanut butter and set them near the barn.
Amara taught her son how to bait a hook before their first fishing trip together.
The hunter baited the cage with fresh meat early in the morning.
Make sure you bait the trap properly, or the animals will not come near it.
- lure
can be used as a verb too; 'lure' suggests attracting from a distance, while 'bait' focuses on placing the attractant
- empty
to remove bait from a trap, though less common as a verb
文法句型
bait [hook/trap]
bait [hook/trap] with [food]
用法筆記
The direct object is always the hook, trap, or snare — never the food itself. You bait a hook with a worm; you do not bait a worm onto a hook.