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Hook line and sinker

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

An idiomatic phrase describing complete deception or uncritical acceptance of falsehood; fishing metaphor used in poetry to convey gullibility, manipulation, or total entrapment through sequential capture imagery emphasizing vulnerability.

Detailed Definition
Hook line and sinker means completely and unquestioningly, especially in relation to being deceived, persuaded, or captivated. In poetry, the fishing image makes belief feel like capture: the victim swallows not only bait but the entire apparatus of deception. It is useful for poems about gullibility, seduction, propaganda, romance, fraud, or religious persuasion. The phrase can be comic or cruel, depending on how vulnerable the deceived person is. It also raises questions about desire’s role in being caught.
Example
Example in poetry:
A comic ballad might show the fisherman believing the mermaid's tale hook, line and sinker; In satire, a crowd may swallow a false promise hook, line and sinker; The phrase hook, line and sinker means being completely deceived or persuaded; A poet can use the fishing image to make gullibility vivid and memorable.
Additional Notes
Hook, line and sinker means to be completely deceived, especially by baited persuasion. The fishing imagery is precise: the victim takes not merely the bait but the whole apparatus of capture. In poetry, it can depict gullibility, seduction, propaganda, fraud, or self-delusion. It pairs well with rivers, lures, mouths, glittering bait, and hidden hooks. Students should consider who is fishing and what desire makes the catch possible.
Also Known As
completely
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