sinker

hook, line, and sinker.

Fig. totally. She fell for our story hook, line, and sinker. They believed every word hook, line, and sinker.

See also: and

swallow something hook, line, and sinker

Fig. to believe something completely. (These terms refer to fishing and fooling a fish into being caught.) I made up a story about why I was so late. The boss swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. I feel like a fool. I swallowed her lies hook, line, and sinker.

See also: and, swallow

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fall for somebody hook, line and sinker

to fall very much in love with someone I'd never seen such a good-looking bloke - I just fell for him hook, line and sinker.

See also: and, fall, line

fall for something hook, line and sinker

to completely believe something someone tells you which is not true I told him I needed the money for my baby, and he fell for it hook, line and sinker.

See also: and, fall, line

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hook, line, and sinker

completely The public isn't swallowing the administration's policies hook, line, and sinker. They made up such a good story that we fell for it hook, line, and sinker.

Usage notes: often used in the forms fall for something hook, line, and sinker or swallow something hook, line, and sinker (to be tricked into believing something without any doubts)

Etymology: based on the idea of a fish so hungry it swallows the hook (the part that catches the fish), the line ( the string) and the sinker (a weight attached to the line to keep it under water)

See also: and