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to provoke or tease someone persistently with criticism or mocking remarks
to deliberately torment or harass a trapped or restrained animal, often by letting dogs attack it
to place food or other attractants on a hook, trap, or net to lure fish or animals as prey
anything that serves as an enticement
something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed
obvious, conspicuous, or too noticeable
BritishWhat does "bait" mean in British slang?
The structure is a simple adjective borrowed from the literal meaning of bait used in fishing or trapping, repurposed to mean something that catches attention in a negative way. It is used in British Multicultural London English (MLE) and UK slang to mean obvious, conspicuous, or too noticeable, often in situations where something should have been hidden or discreet. People typically say "That's bait" or "You're being bait right now" when someone draws unwanted attention. The term originated in early 2000s London street and grime culture, and remains common in UK youth slang.
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