bait
BAYT
/beɪt/
To deliberately annoy or taunt someone; to entice someone to do something by offering a temptation.
Baiting often involves a 'trap'. You say something specifically to get a person to react in a way that makes them look bad or gives you an advantage.
The story behind the word. Related to the word 'bite', baiting was originally about making an animal bite a hook or making dogs bite a tethered bear. When we bait people today, we are metaphorically trying to get them to 'take the hook' and react.
Word relationships
- taunt: Taunting is pure mockery; baiting is mockery with the intent of catching the person in a trap or reaction.
- repel: Repel means to drive away, whereas baiting is designed to draw someone in (even if for a fight).
Commonly confused with
- bate: Bate (as in 'with bated breath') means to restrain or lessen; bait is to lure or tease.
Word family
- baiting (noun): The action of deliberately annoying or taunting.
Collocations
- click bait
- bait the hook
- race baiting
Idioms & expressions
- rise to the bait
Example sentences
- "Don't respond to him; he's just trying to bait you into a public argument." Describing a social media interaction.
- "I will not be baited by your insults." A classic literary reference.
Memory hook
Bait = Bite. You want the other person to 'bite' and get angry. Bait: Fishing for a fight.
When not to use
Don't use it for general assistance. Baiting is always a bit predatory or manipulative.
Fun facts
- The term 'clickbait' was coined in the late 1990s to describe web content designed to entice users to click a link.
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