Meaning of take the bait | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To nibble at bait on a hook.
   literally
2. To be lured by an offer, flattery, or a provocation into doing something, especially something disadvantageous or dubious.
   figuratively

Equivalents

Examples

“"I would like⟳ to first of all commend all of the police officers today. . . . They were in fact at various times provoked, and they didn't take⟳ the bait in any way, shape⟳ or form⟳."”

“"He wanted to have⟳ a discussion about creationism. . . . But I didn't want⟳ that sort⟳ of discussion, and when I didn't take⟳ the bait, I think⟳ I spoiled the script that had been running in his head."”

“[T]he singing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. . . was pressed by our colleague, Washington Post⟳ columnist David Ignatius, into demonstrating his reported ability to sing⟳ a rendition of the Irish holiday song, “Christmas in Killarney.” The general, improbably, took the bait, and you can now hear⟳ it.”

“Unlike Bing, GPT-4 usually flat-out refused to take⟳ the bait when I tried to get⟳ it to talk⟳ about consciousness, or get⟳ it to provide⟳ instructions for illegal or immoral activities, and it treated sensitive queries with kid gloves and nuance.”

CEFR level