as in switcheroo
US
a selling method in which a customer is attracted by the advertisement of a low-priced product but then is encouraged to buy a more expensive one
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Recent Examples of bait and switch
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
Read: The bait and switch of Trump’s tariffs Perhaps that reality is why some of the major industry unions reacted to Trump’s post with muted support.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025
Kenan Thompson, Marcello Hernández, and Bowen Yang lead a sweet song until — wait — thankful bait and switch!
—EW.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
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
Read: The bait and switch of Trump’s tariffs Perhaps that reality is why some of the major industry unions reacted to Trump’s post with muted support.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 17 May 2025
Kenan Thompson, Marcello Hernández, and Bowen Yang lead a sweet song until — wait — thankful bait and switch!
—EW.com, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait and switch
Noun
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Busy Philipps and Michelle Williams Relive 2017 As far as recent Oscars scandals go, the Moonlight/La La Land switcheroo was way less taxing (and had a shorter shelf life, discourse-wise) than the Slap.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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But a three-dimensional person has no place in a show that could have the mid-gala switcheroo take place moments earlier.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2025
Noun
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June’s inflation data came in broadly lower than expected, marking a sharp turnaround from the stagflation concerns that gripped the market in the first quarter.—
Benzinga,
Freep.com,
19 July 2025
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Barring a second-half turnaround, the Sky are on track to miss the playoffs for a second straight season, sitting in 11th place in the 13-team WNBA.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
18 July 2025
Noun
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This person could really flip-flop and play me tomorrow when new guys come in.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
15 July 2025
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The public split between Target and Twin Cities Pride, the nonprofit that throws the parade in Target's hometown, captures how brand loyalty has weakened among some shoppers who have objected to the company's flip-flop on its Pride collection and DEI stance.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
Noun
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Ukrainians have felt stunned by the Trump administration's turnabout on Ukraine.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
12 Apr. 2025
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That’s a turnabout for the governor, who had mentioned those communities last year and in other previous statements recognizing the shooting on June 12, 2016.—
Steven Lemongello,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2025
Noun
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This is largely due to the renunciation of complete sovereignty and the sharing of resources that the EU has encouraged for almost 60 years now.—
Frank-Walter Steinmeier,
Foreign Affairs,
13 June 2016
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Dual citizenship policies vary among countries, with some countries mandating renunciation of existing citizenship.—
Jean Francois Harvey,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Britain is not the only country pressed into making a volte-face.—
London Business School,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
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The realities of Putin’s momentum, coupled with Washington’s volte-face, have led to a clear mood shift in Kyiv.—
Daryna Mayer,
NBC News,
13 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Subscriptions like Billie cover this for you without a second thought.—
Sabina Wizemann,
Good Housekeeping,
30 Nov. 2022
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In America, the allure of material comfort is accepted without a second thought.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
20 Nov. 2022
Noun
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Mixed Reactions While some universities criticize the procedure and announce retractions, others have attempted to justify the practice, revealing a troubling lack of consensus on AI ethics in academia.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
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Economists have forecast a range of potential negative outcomes driven by Trump’s tariffs: an increase in prices, longer-term inflationary pressure, a slowdown in U.S. growth or even stagflation — a combination of inflation and economic retraction.—
Sylvan Lane,
The Hill,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bait and switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait%20and%20switch. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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