Hook, line and sinker

Definitions

• Complete and unquestioning acceptance
  Used to describe someone who has fallen for something completely and without reservations, often in a gullible or naive manner.

• Complete and thorough
  Refers to something being done or accomplished in its entirety and with great attention to detail and completeness.

Examples of Hook, line and sinker

• The salesman's persuasive pitch hooked me, line, and sinker.

  This idiom is used to describe someone who is easily convinced or deceived by someone else's persuasive or manipulative tactics. The phrase "hook, line, and sinker" refers to the three components of a fishing tackle: the hook, the line, and the sinker. Just as a fish takes the bait on the hook, a person may be completely deceived or convinced by someone else's persuasive words or actions, just as the salesman's pitch was able to completely convince the speaker in this example.

• The politician's promises hooked the voters, line, and sinker.

  This example illustrates how the idiom can be used in a political context. The voters were easily convinced by the politician's promises, just as a fish is easily hooked by a bait. The phrase "hooked, line, and sinker" emphasizes the complete and total deception or persuasion that occurred.

• The scam artist's scheme hooked the victim, line, and sinker.

  This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe someone who falls for a scam or a fraudulent scheme. The victim was completely deceived by the scam artist's tactics, just as a fish is completely deceived by the bait on a hook. The phrase "hooked, line, and sinker" emphasizes the complete and total deception that occurred.

• The salesman's pitch hooked me, line, and sinker, but I'm glad I didn't buy it.

  This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe someone who is almost convinced by a sales pitch, but ultimately decides not to make a purchase. The speaker was completely deceived by the salesman's pitch, just as a fish is completely deceived by the bait on a hook, but ultimately decided not to take the bait. The phrase "hooked, line, and sinker" emphasizes the complete and total deception that occurred, but also highlights the fact that the speaker was able to resist the salesman's tactics.

• The conspiracy theorist's claims hooked the audience, line, and sinker.

  This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe someone who falls for a conspiracy theory or a false claim. The audience was completely deceived by the conspiracy theorist's claims, just as a fish is completely deceived by the bait on a hook. The phrase "hooked, line, and sinker" emphasizes the complete and total deception that occurred.

Conclusion

The idiom "hook, line and sinker" can be used to describe both a naive acceptance or a thorough completion. The common thread between these meanings is the idea of something being done or accepted fully and without hesitation. It is often used in a playful or humorous manner to emphasize the extent of someone's actions or beliefs.

Origin of "Hook, line and sinker"

The origin of this idiom can be traced back to fishing. The phrase "hook, line and sinker" refers to the three essential pieces of equipment used in fishing. The hook is used to catch the fish, the line is used to reel it in, and the sinker is used to keep the bait at the desired depth.

Over time, the phrase began to be used figuratively to describe someone being caught or fooled by something completely and without resistance, just like a fish taking the bait on a fishing line. The earliest recorded use of this idiom in its figurative sense was in a book by British author Robert Smith Surtees in 1838.

Since then, the idiom has become a common and versatile phrase in the English language, used in a variety of contexts to convey the idea of complete and unquestioning acceptance or action. It is often used in a lighthearted manner, but can also be used to convey a sense of skepticism or caution.