bait
gb/bˈeɪt/ us/bˈeɪt/
B1
English
~ 8700
csali, csalétek, provokáció, felcsaliz, csalit tesz, provokál, hergel
B1
1
Usage pattern:
use [something] as bait for [fish/animals]
He put a worm on the hook as bait and cast his line into the river.
Csalinak egy gilisztát tett a horogra, majd bedobta a horgot a folyóba.
The farmers left poisoned bait in the fields to control the rat population.
A gazdák mérgezett csalétket helyeztek ki a földeken, hogy visszaszorítsák a patkányállományt.
We ran out of bait after an hour because the fish kept stealing it.
The trap was empty, so the hunter replaced the old bait with fresh meat.
Use smaller pieces of bait if the fish keep nibbling without getting caught.
Learner examples
He buys bait before he goes fishing.
Mielőtt horgászni megy, csalit vesz.
The cat followed the bait into the cage.
A macska a csali után ment a ketrecbe.
They put cheese in the trap as bait.
The fish ate the bait but not the hook.
We need more bait to catch more fish.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bait' with 'pet food' or 'feed'. 'Bait' is food specifically used to attract and catch or kill an animal, not to take care of it.
Meaning
food used to catch animals
Collocations
use bait
|live bait
|fresh bait
|set out bait
|bait for fish
|bait station
Synonyms
lure (Can be any thing that attracts; often used for fishing or hunting, but also more general and figurative.)
|
enticer (Less common; stresses the attracting function rather than being typical fishing vocabulary.)
Antonyms
repellent (A substance that keeps animals away instead of attracting them.)
Themes
animals
|food
|leisure
|nature
Definition
Food or something similar that you use to make a fish or animal come so you can catch or kill it.
Food or another substance used to attract fish or other animals so that they can be caught or killed.
NOUN
B2
2
csali
B1
provokáció
B2
Usage pattern:
use [something] as bait to [get a reaction/action]
The headline was pure bait designed to make people click on the article.
A cím puszta csali volt: arra tervezték, hogy az emberek rákattintsanak a cikkre.
Don't respond to his comments; they're just bait to start an argument.
Ne reagálj a megjegyzéseire; csak csalinak szánja őket, hogy vitát robbantson ki.
Cheap tickets were the bait to get customers into the website, where the real prices were much higher.
She knew the message was bait and refused to answer it.
The show used emotional bait to keep viewers watching until the end.
Learner examples
The post is bait to get more likes.
A poszt csak csali, hogy több lájkot kapjon.
His rude joke was bait to make her angry.
A durva vicce csak provokáció volt, hogy feldühítse.
The free gift was bait to sell more phones.
I think this video title is bait.
Do not answer; his text is bait.
Common mistake:
Learners may only know the fishing meaning and not realize that 'bait' is very common for online content and arguments (e.g., 'click bait', 'his comment was just bait'). It always suggests some kind of trick or manipulation, not a neutral invitation.
Meaning
thing used to tempt or provoke
Collocations
emotional bait
|online bait
|click bait
|offer bait
|political bait
|use as bait
Synonyms
temptation (Focuses more on the desire it creates rather than the trick or manipulation behind it.)
|
provocation (Stresses that the bait is meant to make someone angry or upset.)
Antonyms
deterrent (Something that discourages or stops people from doing something, the opposite of attracting or tempting them.)
Themes
communication
|media
|emotions
|business
|relationships
Definition
Words, offers, or other things that are used to make a person do something, click something, or get angry, often as part of a trick.
Something, such as an offer, remark, or piece of content, used to tempt, attract, or provoke a person, especially to trick them or get a reaction.
VERB
B2
3
felcsaliz
B2
csalit tesz
A2
Usage pattern:
bait [a hook/trap/line] (with [something])
She carefully baited the hook with a small piece of shrimp.
Gondosan felcsalizta a horgot egy kis garnéladarabbal.
We baited the traps with peanut butter to catch the mice.
Mogyoróvajat tettünk csalinak a csapdákba, hogy elkapjuk az egereket.
Before dawn, the fishermen had already baited all their lines.
If you don’t bait the trap properly, the animal will eat and escape.
The ranger showed us how to bait a humane trap for the stray cat.
Learner examples
He baited his hook with bread.
Kenyérrel csalizta fel a horgot.
They baited the trap and waited.
Felcsalizták a csapdát, aztán vártak.
I do not know how to bait a hook.
We baited the mouse trap with cheese.
She baited the line and threw it into the lake.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'bait' is only a noun. As a verb, it must take an object (you 'bait a hook', you do not just 'bait' with no object in this sense).
Meaning
put bait on hook or trap
Collocations
bait a hook
|bait a trap
|bait a line
|bait the mouse trap
|bait with cheese
|properly baited
Synonyms
rig (In fishing, means to prepare equipment; broader than just putting bait on it.)
|
load (Can describe putting something into a device, but does not specifically mean bait.)
Antonyms
unbait (Rare, but literally means to remove bait from a hook or trap, the opposite action.)
Themes
animals
|leisure
|nature
|work
Definition
To place food or another thing on a hook or inside a trap so that an animal or fish will come and be caught or killed.
To put bait on a hook, in a trap, or in a similar device in order to catch or kill animals or fish.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
bait [someone] (into [doing something])
He kept baiting her with sarcastic remarks until she finally shouted at him.
Szarkasztikus megjegyzésekkel addig provokálta, amíg végül rá nem kiáltott.
The interviewer tried to bait the politician into making a careless comment.
A riporter megpróbált kiprovokálni a politikusból egy meggondolatlan megjegyzést.
Online trolls often bait strangers just to start fights.
She refused to be baited into an argument in front of the children.
The headline was clearly written to bait readers into a strong emotional response.
Learner examples
He is baiting her to make her angry.
Azért provokálja, hogy feldühítse.
The boy baited his brother until he cried.
A fiú addig hergelte a testvérét, amíg az sírni nem kezdett.
Do not bait him; he is already upset.
They tried to bait me into a fight, but I walked away.
The comments bait people so they will write angry replies.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'bait' with 'beat' because they sound similar. 'Bait someone' means you try to make them react; it does not mean to hit them.
Meaning
deliberately provoke or taunt
Collocations
bait someone
|baiting comments
|bait into reacting
|bait into an argument
|racially baited
|media-baiting
Synonyms
provoke (More formal and general; does not always imply a childish or teasing tone.)
|
taunt (Stresses cruel or mocking speech; often stronger and more hostile than 'bait'.)
Antonyms
calm (To reduce someone's anger or emotion, the opposite of trying to make them react strongly.)
Themes
emotions
|conflict
|communication
|relationships
Definition
To say or do things on purpose to make someone angry or upset so they will react.
To deliberately annoy, tease, or taunt someone in order to make them angry or to force them to react.
Grammar
Dictionary form
bait
IPA
GB/bˈeɪt/
US/bˈeɪt/
Syllables & stress
bait (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (bait)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: bait
- Plural: bait
Verb
- Base: bait
- 3rd Person Singular: baits
- Present Participle: baiting
- Past: baited
Word family
Forms
baits
verb
baiting
verb
baited
verb
Related words
clickbait
noun
baiter
noun
Expressions
bait and switch
1/bˈeɪt ˈænd swˈɪt͡ʃ/
idiom
deceptive sales or marketing tactic
A dishonest way of selling something where a company advertises a good product or a low price to attract people, then tries to make them buy a different, worse, or more expensive product instead.
Examples
- Consumer groups accused the company of using a bait and switch to sell more expensive phones.
- The ad promised a cheap holiday, but it turned out to be a classic bait and switch.
rise to the bait
1/ɹˈaɪz tə ðə bˈeɪt/
idiom
respond to teasing or provocation
To react to someone’s teasing or provocation, usually by getting angry or defending yourself, when it might have been better to stay calm.
Examples
- She tried to ignore his jokes, but eventually she rose to the bait.
- The fans rose to the bait and started shouting back at the rival team’s supporters.
take the bait
1/tˈeɪk ðə bˈeɪt/
idiom
react to trap or provocation
To react in the way someone wanted, especially by getting angry or by doing something unwise because you were tempted or tricked.
Examples
- He insulted her twice, but she refused to take the bait.
- The scam email looked real, and many people took the bait and sent their details.
- Don’t take the bait; he’s just trying to start a fight.