bait and switch
noun
1
: a sales tactic in which a customer is attracted by the advertisement of a low-priced item but is then encouraged to buy a higher-priced one
2
: the ploy of offering a person something desirable to gain favor (such as political support) then thwarting expectations with something less desirable
Examples of bait and switch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Classical After a buzzing opening night complete with an indiscreet bait and switch—Josh Groban headlined after an ever-busy Cynthia Erivo had to withdraw—next up for the New York Philharmonic is a celebration of Afromodernism.
—
The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
To be fair, the bait and switch is obvious from the jump.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2024
The fake movie would be promoted and then audiences would get the bait and switch of a lifetime in the theater.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 25 July 2024
This one’s cheerfully grandiose title is, unsurprisingly, a bait and switch: These are sad songs, small in scope and size (none run past four minutes).
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for bait and switch 
The New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2024
To be fair, the bait and switch is obvious from the jump.
—Ben Croll, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2024
The fake movie would be promoted and then audiences would get the bait and switch of a lifetime in the theater.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 25 July 2024
This one’s cheerfully grandiose title is, unsurprisingly, a bait and switch: These are sad songs, small in scope and size (none run past four minutes).
—Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 4 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for bait and switch
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bait and switch.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Bait and switch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bait%20and%20switch. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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