sinker

fall for (someone or something) hook, line, and sinker

1. To become completely infatuated or in love with someone. The moment I met my wife, I fell for her hook, line, and sinker.
2. To believe unquestioningly that something is true, especially something intended to dupe one. I told them that I like this stupid school, and they fell for it hook, line, and sinker—I guess I'm a pretty good actress.
See also: and, fall, sinker

hook, line, and sinker

Completely and unquestioningly. The moment I met my wife, I fell for her hook, line, and sinker. I told them that I like this stupid school, and they fell for it hook, line, and sinker—I guess I'm a pretty good actress.
See also: and, sinker

swallow (something) hook, line, and sinker

To believe completely and unquestioningly that something is true, especially that which is deceitful, misleading, or untrue. I told them that I like this stupid school, and they swallowed it hook, line, and sinker—I guess I'm a pretty good actress. I can't believe they swallowed his stupid story hook, line, and sinker.
See also: and, sinker, swallow
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

hook, line, and sinker.

Fig. totally. She fell for our story hook, line, and sinker. They believed every word hook, line, and sinker.
See also: and, sinker

swallow something hook, line, and sinker

Fig. to believe something completely. (These terms refer to fishing and fooling a fish into being caught.) I made up a story about why I was so late. The boss swallowed it hook, line, and sinker. I feel like a fool. I swallowed her lies hook, line, and sinker.
See also: and, sinker, swallow
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

hook, line, and sinker

Without reservation, completely, as in He swallowed our excuse hook, line, and sinker. This expression, first recorded in 1865, alludes to a fish swallowing not only the baited hook but the leaden sinker and the entire fishing line between them.
See also: and, sinker
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

fall for someone hook, line and sinker

If you fall for someone hook, line and sinker, you fall deeply in love with them. I fell for her hook, line and sinker.
See also: and, fall, line, sinker, someone

fall for something hook, line and sinker

or

swallow something hook, line and sinker

If someone falls for something hook, line, and sinker or swallows something hook, line and sinker, they believe it completely, even though it is often not true. He told her a story about having lost his money, and she fell for it, hook, line and sinker. There were leaks to the press, and journalists swallowed it hook, line and sinker.
See also: and, fall, line, sinker, something

hook, line, and sinker

You use hook, line, and sinker to mean that someone does something to a great degree. I was completely against nationalization. I resisted it hook, line and sinker and became quite unpopular in the process. He has a tendency to get drawn into things hook, line and sinker. Note: When fish are caught, they sometimes swallow part of the fishing line and the `sinker' or weight, as well as the hook.
See also: and, sinker
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

hook, line, and sinker

used to emphasize that someone has been completely tricked or deceived. informal
This phrase is a fishing metaphor: all three are items attached to a fishing rod and likely to be gulped down by a greedy fish. The phrase has been in use since the mid 19th century.
1996 Colin Bateman Of Wee Sweetie Mice & Men Patricia wouldn't know what had hit her. She'd fall for me hook, line and sinker once I'd reminded her what we were all about.
See also: and, sinker
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

hook, line and ˈsinker

if you accept something hook, line and sinker, you accept it completely, either because you have been deceived or because you believe things too easily: Are you telling me that you swallowed his absurd lies hook, line and sinker?
All three words in this expression are items used for catching a fish.
See also: and, line, sinker
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

hook, line, and sinker

mod. totally. They believed every word hook, line, and sinker.
See also: and, sinker

sinker

n. a doughnut. All our sinkers are brought in fresh on Monday.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

hook, line, and sinker

Informal
Without reservation; completely: swallowed the excuse hook, line, and sinker.
See also: and, sinker
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

hook, line, and sinker

Completely, totally, all of it. The expression is often phrased as to swallow [something] hook, line, and sinker, alluding to the gullibility of a fish that takes in bait so completely that it swallows the fishing hook, line, and sinker as well. The term originated in the United States in the mid-nineteenth century. In the late 1980s Len Deighton used it in the titles of a series of three espionage novels involving complicated deceit, Spy Hook, Spy Line, and Spy Sinker. See also lock, stock, and barrel.
See also: and, sinker
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • fall for (someone or something) hook, line, and sinker
  • fall for someone hook, line and sinker
  • fall for something hook, line and sinker
  • hook, line and sinker
  • hook, line, and sinker
  • fall for
  • fall for (someone or something)
  • infatuated with
  • infatuated with (someone or something)
  • swallow (something) hook, line, and sinker
References in periodicals archive
Working as the magazine's only full-time or even regular employee, Sinker produces six 150-page issues a year notable for their high standards for graphic design and visual quality as well as for writing.
Fear of a punk planet. (Articles)
Once the pressure level that caused crystallization was reached, the pressure was released and the solution was heated to 170 [degrees] C, and the sinker was moved back and forth at this temperature for 20 min to redissolve the polymer and homogenize the solution.
Low shear viscosity and crystallization in dilute solutions of polymers at high pressures: falling body viscometry of high molecular weight polyethylene solutions
That's when heavier sinkers and heftier rods are needed to launch rigs and hold stationary in sometimes rough surf and longshore current.
Get the Lead Out: Choose the right sinker for your tackle and surf conditions
This causes the egg sinker to plummet to the bottom, creating an added tug on the line and also potentially snags the sinker on vegetation or rocks as the pike swims off.
Eaten Alive: LIVEBAIT RIGGING for PIKE
Mr Sinker said she had a long list of previous convictions including theft.
MUM STOLE FROM HER OAP FRIEND
The materials that helped the clay sinker float included the plastic bottle cap and the wooden clothespin.
On the rise: can you turn a sinker into a floater?
"I'm going out with confidence in my sinker every time," he said.
Bummer giving Sox bullpen needed boost
Johnson prefers the slip sinker rig, because fooling big grouper is all about presentation.
Drop 'Em and Stop 'Em: Gear up, anglers. Grouper's back in session
A precise combination of rod, reel, line, hook, sinker, and sonar seems more integral to the success of drop-shot angling than any other technique in bass fishing.
Getting the drop on smallmouths
From her detention at Camp Crame, Senator Leila de Lima criticized some of her colleagues in the Senate who believed 'hook, line and sinker' the drug allegations hurled at her.
De Lima hits senators who believe 'perjurious' allegations
Ryan Thompson was coach of Team Hook, Line and Sinker, representing the Center of Hope in Southbridge.
Special Olympians reel in gold; Fishing fine in Quabbin
The average trout man will certainly have at least five in his armoury - a floater, intermediate, midge tip, fast sinker, and very fast sinker.
GOOD LINE CALL
My husband and I support the plans and were hoping to have a sensible discussion at the meeting, but it turned into a very one-sided and inflamatory tirade against the council, and some very frightening "facts" were swallowed hook, line and sinker by most of the audience.
Couldn't place a lot of the faces
The event, at the academy in Seel Street, Liverpool, will be opened by the ECHO's arts editor Joe Riley and "Alice" - Louise Sinker - will also be making appearances.
Chance for kids to share in wonder
The pair teamed up for a magazine launch and, as our exclusive picture shows, he fell for her charms hook, line and sinker.
3AM: Pammie's so g-Ushy