sinker
B2Neutral to Technical
Definition
Meaning
A weight used to sink a fishing line or net below the surface of the water.
A thing that sinks or causes sinking, including specific food items, baseball pitches, and metaphorical concepts in business or economics.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Predominantly a concrete noun; its abstract or metaphorical uses are typically domain-specific and context-bound.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primary fishing sense is universal. The food term 'doughnut sinker' (a type of donut) is predominantly American. The baseball pitch 'sinker' is also chiefly American English.
Connotations
In both varieties, the fishing sense is the most neutral and common. Metaphorical uses ('cost sinker', 'lead balloon') carry the same negative connotation of something that pulls down or fails.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to the additional baseball and specific culinary uses.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
V + sinker (attach/cast/use a sinker)N + of + sinker (a weight of sinkers)N + sinker (lead sinker)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hook, line, and sinker (to believe something completely, often a deception)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informally used to describe a project or investment that consumes resources and fails ('That new branch was a real sinker').
Academic
Rare, except in specific historical or technical contexts (e.g., maritime studies, materials science).
Everyday
Primarily in fishing contexts and the idiom 'hook, line, and sinker'.
Technical
Specific to fishing tackle, baseball (pitch type), and metallurgy (a type of defect in casting).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He put a small sinker on the fishing line.
- Without a sinker, the bait would just float on the water.
- The pitcher threw a perfect sinker that dropped just below the batter's swing.
- The investors swallowed the dubious proposal hook, line, and sinker, leading to significant losses.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SINker SINKing to the bottom of the sea. It makes the line SINk.
Conceptual Metaphor
DOWN IS BAD/NEGATIVE (e.g., a 'sinking feeling', a business 'sinker').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating "sinker" (рыболовный грузик) as "тонущий" (one who is drowning/sinking).
- The idiom "hook, line, and sinker" is fixed; do not translate components literally (не "крючок, леска и грузило").
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (incorrect: 'It will sinker'; correct: 'It will sink').
- Confusing 'sinker' (object) with 'sink' (action/place).
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'hook, line, and sinker', what does 'sinker' metaphorically represent?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is moderately common, primarily known in the context of fishing and the popular idiom. Its technical uses (baseball, metallurgy) are less widely known.
No, 'sinker' is a noun. The verb form is 'to sink'.
It is a type of pitch that drops sharply as it reaches home plate, often causing the batter to hit the top of the ball, resulting in a ground ball.
It means to believe or accept something completely and without question, especially when it is a lie or exaggeration. It originates from fishing, where a fish taking all the tackle is completely caught.