hook, line and sinker
adv/ˌhʊk ˌlaɪn ən(d)ˈsɪŋkə(ɹ)/
Etymology From all the parts of a fishing tackle that may be lost to a fish. Appeared in 1838 as a metaphor from angling.
1
Completely; (of a belief or acceptance) naively or unquestioningly.
- I told him you were just a friend, and he fell for it hook, line and sinker.
- In a lengthy post on his social media website, Truth Social, Trump accused his voters on Wednesday of falling for what he called a “radical left” hoax by the opposition to discredit him. “Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘bullshit,’ hook, line, and sinker.”2025 July 17, Oliver Holmes, “Trump calls Epstein conspiracy a ‘hoax’ and turns on Maga ‘weaklings’”, in The Guardian:
- Synonyms
- completely
- Related terms
- lock, stock and barrel, eat something up with a spoon