hook, line and sinker

adverb

: without hesitation or reservation : completely
fell for the story hook, line and sinker

Examples of hook, line and sinker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But others obviously buy into it, hook, line and sinker. Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 20 Aug. 2025 And in the last election, over 70 million people bought it hook, line and sinker. Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Fortunately for the temple priests, Berenice and Ptolemy swallowed this bull hook, line and sinker. Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 25 May 2025 The Nazis took the bait, hook, line and sinker, and skedaddled to Sardinia, smoothing the way for the Allies to take Sicily, a major turning point in World War II. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025 The Nazis took the bait, hook, line and sinker, and skedaddled to Sardinia, smoothing the way for the Allies to take Sicily and marking a major turning point in World War II. Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025 With 1,800 feet of shoreline, one’s nearest neighbors are the striped bass and speckled trout awaiting hook, line and sinker off the pier at the tip of the estate. Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2025 This has led Republicans to warn the nominees against falling hook, line and sinker for the barbs. Al Weaver, The Hill, 12 Jan. 2025 And Tony Jackett, married, with six kids, nonetheless went for her, hook, line and sinker. Susan Spencer, CBS News, 6 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

from analogy with a well-hooked fish

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hook, line and sinker was in 1838

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Cite this Entry

“Hook, line and sinker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hook%2C%20line%20and%20sinker. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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