fall for (someone or something) hook, line, and sinker
1. To become completely infatuated or in love with someone. The moment I met my wife, I fell for her hook, line, and sinker. Well, now I see how Ed fell for his new girlfriend hook, line, and sinker—she's gorgeous! It just really hurts when you fall for someone hook, line, and sinker, and they don't feel the same way about you.
2. To believe unquestioningly that something is true, especially something intended to dupe one. I told them that I like this stupid school, and they fell for it hook, line, and sinker—I guess I'm a pretty good actress. A: "Wow, you fell for that ridiculous story about Grace's dog eating her homework hook, line, and sinker." B: "I know, don't remind me." Politicians make us the same old promises every election cycle, and we fall for them hook, line, and sinker—like idiots!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
fall for something hook, line and sinker
or swallow something hook, line and sinker
If someone falls for something hook, line, and sinker or swallows something hook, line and sinker, they believe it completely, even though it is often not true. He told her a story about having lost his money, and she fell for it, hook, line and sinker. There were leaks to the press, and journalists swallowed it hook, line and sinker.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012