bait and switch
noun
1
: a sales tactic in which a customer is attracted by the advertisement of a low-priced item but is then encouraged to buy a higher-priced one
2
: the ploy of offering a person something desirable to gain favor (such as political support) then thwarting expectations with something less desirable
Examples of bait and switch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Medicare Advantage is a bait and switch scam & betrayal.
—
Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Gloria’s key allies in this bait and switch were Councilmembers Joe LaCava and Sean Elo-Rivera.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025
The bait and switch here is multilevel, since the scene’s idyllic vibe is so clearly at odds with Daemon’s many, many insecurities.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2024
The lunar elixir, from the Ugly Delicious section of Fura’s Journal of Future Foods menu highlighting retail-imperfect ingredients, was a sensory bait and switch.
—Adam Erace, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
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Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
Gloria’s key allies in this bait and switch were Councilmembers Joe LaCava and Sean Elo-Rivera.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025
The bait and switch here is multilevel, since the scene’s idyllic vibe is so clearly at odds with Daemon’s many, many insecurities.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 15 July 2024
The lunar elixir, from the Ugly Delicious section of Fura’s Journal of Future Foods menu highlighting retail-imperfect ingredients, was a sensory bait and switch.
—Adam Erace, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Cite this Entry
“Bait and switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bait%20and%20switch. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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