Skip to main content
to fall for someone's charming lines

to fall for someone's charming lines

8.1
To be tricked by someone's flattering words
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : caer en las palabras encantadoras de alguien
  • Don't fall for his charming lines; he's used the same trick before.

Examples

  • It surprised everyone when the usually cautious manager fell for his charming lines.

  • She fell for his charming lines last summer.

  • Despite her experience, she almost fell for his charming lines at the party.

  • Don't fall for his charming lines!

  • Despite her experience, she almost fell for his charming lines at the party.

  • Don't fall for his charming lines; he's used the same trick before.

  • It surprised everyone when the usually cautious manager fell for his charming lines.

Synonyms

to hook
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
330 4.6

To attract someone and make them want to be involved, sometimes by a trick

is narrower, focusing on being fooled by flattering or persuasive talk
to lure
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
270 3.7

To get someone to do something by offering a reward or making false promises

is specifically about being misled by charming language rather than offers
to fall for
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
  • Informal
148 4.3

To be tricked into believing something that is not true

adds that the deception comes specifically from flattering or charming words
to charm
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
71 2.2

To please people by being friendly and attractive

involves that pleasant behaviour specifically causing deception through words
to entice
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
61 4.9

To persuade someone to do something by offering something they want

applies when the appeal comes through flattering words that deceive
to sweet-talk
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
  • Informal
23 5.3

To persuade someone by saying nice things to them

is the experience of being fooled by that flattering speech
to snow
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
  • Slang
14 8.9

To trick someone by using false words or charm

describes the target being tricked specifically by charming speech
to play (someone) for a fool
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
  • Offensive
7 7.4

Treat someone as stupid to trick or cheat them

centres on being seduced into belief by flattering or persuasive words
to beguile
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
4 8.4

To attract and charm someone while tricking them

emphasizes the person who ends up being deceived by charm
to soft-soap
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
  • Informal
1 7.7

To try to persuade someone by giving false praise

focuses on the person being deceived by those flattering words
to lay on the charm
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
  • Informal
1 5.8

Act very friendly and say nice things to get what you want

is the situation where that behaviour causes someone to be deceived
to pour honey in someone's ear
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
  • Informal
9.9

Say nice words you do not mean to get something from someone

is about being fooled by flattering or persuasive words
to play like a violin
vsto fall for someone's charming lines
  • Informal
9.0

To trick someone easily so you can get what you want

is about being tricked specifically through pleasant or persuasive speech

Antonyms

To recognize when someone is pretending or lying

14 4.7

To not accept that something is true

How Deceived

to con someone
  • Slang
7.7
to deceive
270 3.9
to fall for someone's charming lines
  • Informal
8.1
to take in
  • Informal
23 4.3

Surface Forms

Morphology

fall + for + someone's + charming + line

The components give substantial cues: 'fall' (to give in), 'for' (indicating the target), and 'lines' (practiced persuasive words) together allow a learner to infer being taken in by someone's flattering talk. However, the phrasal verb 'fall for' has idiomatic uses (e.g. 'fall in love' or 'be deceived') and the exact sense 'be tricked by flattery' is a conventionalized extension that is not fully predictable without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Fall for someone's charming lines gives a simple picture: you hear smooth, flattering words—charming lines—and fall for them as if into a trap. That's why it means 'to be tricked by someone's flattering or persuasive words'.