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hook, line, and sinker

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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, sinker

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, sinker

hook, line, and sinker

Without reservation, completely, as in He swallowed our excuse hook, line, and sinker. This expression, first recorded in 1865, alludes to a fish swallowing not only the baited hook but the leaden sinker and the entire fishing line between them.

See also: and, sinker

hook, line, and sinker

mod. totally. They believed every word hook, line, and sinker.

See also: and, sinker

hook, line, and sinker

Informal

Without reservation; completely: swallowed the excuse hook, line, and sinker.

See also: and, sinker