bait (redirected from rising to the bait)

Fish or cut bait. (American)

something that you say to someone when you want them to make a decision and take action without any more delay. Your relationship's going nowhere. It's time to fish or cut bait.

See also: cut, fish

rise to the bait

to react to something that someone has said in exactly the way that they wanted you to react, usually by becoming angry. Anthony keeps saying that women make bad drivers but I refuse to rise to the bait. (often negative)

See also: rise

swallow/take the bait

to accept something that is only being offered to you so that you will do something. The offer of a free radio with every television proved very popular, and hundreds of shoppers swallowed the bait.

See also: swallow, take

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fish or cut bait

to act or decide you are not going to do anything. The time has come when you have to fish or cut bait — either you help us plan what to do or we will decide and go ahead without you.

See also: cut, fish

rise to the bait

to react to something that was said just to make you react. Tony keeps saying that women are bad drivers, but I refuse to rise to the bait and don't answer him.

Etymology: based on the idea that a fish will swim up toward bait (= small amounts of food) on a hook and get caught

See also: rise

take the bait

to accept something that was offered to get you to do something. I flirted with Kate, teased her some, but she never took the bait. Others tried to focus on our disagreements, but we didn't take the bait and instead talked about what we can do together.

Etymology: based on the idea that a fish is attracted by the bait (= small amount of food) on a fishing hook and is caught by it

See also: take