rise to the bait

Idioms  

1. Be tempted by or react to an enticement, as in We told him there'd be lots of single young women at the party, and he rose to the bait. Likening a fish rising to bait to human behavior dates from the late 1500s.

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Example Sentences

While Hannity may have been trying to elicit a bigger, more combative reaction from the actor, Penn did not rise to the bait.

From Salon • Apr. 7, 2022

Even if your nearly ex is trying to play dirty, don’t rise to the bait.

From The Guardian • Jan. 14, 2017

But Mr. Sanders did not rise to the bait.

From New York Times • Oct. 15, 2015

My wise therapist told me that I should see her as fishing for a reaction, but that smart fish don’t rise to the bait.

From Slate • Sep. 8, 2015

In the end, the Lithuanian community did not rise to the bait.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield