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 first movie offered a bit of a bait and switch with a plot about a group of unlikely allies trying to survive a zombie outbreak evolving into something else entirely.
—
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 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 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
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 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 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
See All Example Sentences for bait and switch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bait and switch
Noun
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Fellow disciple Shen Gongbao, a stuttering leopard turned immortal, was upset that he had been passed over for the opportunity and orchestrated a switcheroo.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
22 Aug. 2025
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The average user probably won’t realize that all these switcheroo mechanics are happening behind the scenes.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The alternative — having three CEOs in as many years — likely could have sparked deeper investor panic over succession planning and the company’s turnaround efforts, which Freixe had championed.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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Burberry’s readmission to the FTSE 100 is another sign that Schulman’s turnaround plan is working, despite the ongoing slowdown in the wider luxury sector, and tepid demand from Chinese consumers.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s disdain for foreign-policy precedent and erratic flip-flops will continue to open opportunities for Xi and Putin to expand their global influence at Washington’s expense.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
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Quirky, outspoken, and utterly Floridian, Irvin is as much Vero Beach as the latest tycoon to get hooked on the community’s unique blend of sophistication and authentic, flip-flop fun.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The plunge – just the latest in a string of sales drops for Musk’s once-hot EV maker – underscores the turnabout in Tesla’s fortunes.—
Ryan Hogg,
CNN Money,
28 Aug. 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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Oddly, the move comes not as a renunciation but as a new adventure.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
15 Aug. 2025
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Moscow has persisted on a set of maximalist conditions to cease the devastating war in Ukraine, including the retainment of occupied territories, Kyiv's renunciation of its ambitions to join the NATO alliance and fresh elections in the invaded country.—
Ruxandra Iordache,
CNBC,
13 Aug. 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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This assistant is crucial for suction, exposure, and retraction—tasks essential for a successful procedure.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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Lownie and HarperCollins' decision follows reports that Melania’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, sent a letter to Biden on Aug. 6, demanding a full retraction of an interview.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bait and switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bait%20and%20switch. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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