sprat

a sprat to catch a mackerel

A small amount of effort or money to expend or risk that has the potential to yield much greater benefits or rewards. Often used after the verb "set," meaning to use as bait; a sprat is a much smaller fish than a mackerel, so you use the smaller as bait to catch the larger. Primarily heard in UK. When big retailers like them offer cash-back prizes, they are setting sprat to catch a mackerel—the money they make from sucking in customers more than outweighs what they spend in actual payouts. Sure you need to have free content—you hook people on the free trial, that's how you get them to pay for an annual subscription. It's a sprat to catch a mackerel. Yes, we have to spend money to send our products to local celebrities, but it's a sprat to catch a mackerel. When they use our products in their social media feeds, we always get a spike in sales!

See also: catch, mackerel, sprat, to

throw a sprat to catch a mackerel

To expend or risk a small amount of effort or money that has the potential to yield much greater benefits or rewards. A sprat is a much smaller fish than a mackerel, so you use the smaller as bait to catch the larger. When big retailers like them offer cash-back prizes, they are throwing a sprat to catch a mackerel—the money they make from sucking in customers more than outweighs what they spend in actual payouts.

See also: catch, mackerel, sprat, throw, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

a sprat to catch a mackerel

BRITISH, OLD-FASHIONED

If you describe something you do as a sprat to catch a mackerel, you mean that it involves a small cost or amount of effort but it will bring you great rewards or benefits. Setting a sprat to catch a mackerel, the store is offering in its summer sale a chrome blender for £99 (was £149) to those who spend £50 or more. Note: A sprat is a type of small fish and a mackerel is a larger fish. Both fish may be eaten.

See also: catch, mackerel, sprat, to

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

a sprat to catch a mackerel

a small expenditure made, or a small risk taken, in the hope of a large or significant gain. British

A sprat is a small sea fish, while a mackerel is rather larger. The phrase has been in use since the mid 19th century and is also found with whale in the place of mackerel .

See also: catch, mackerel, sprat, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

(be) a ˌsprat to catch a ˈmackerel

(informal) (be) a fairly small or unimportant thing which is offered or risked in the hope of getting something bigger or better: The competition and prize of a free car is a sprat to catch a mackerel. The publicity will mean good business for months to come.

Sprat and mackerel are both types of fish. Sprats are very small.

See also: catch, mackerel, sprat, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017