English Reference
Idiom idiom

reel in


To bring in (e.g. by attractive offers or persuasion); to lure.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

The store uses big sales to reel in new customers.

CONTEXTUAL

The company offered a massive discount to reel in potential clients who were still undecided about the contract.

COMPLEX

By promising unrealistic returns on investment, the fraudulent firm managed to reel in dozens of unsuspecting retirees before the authorities intervened.


Related idioms1entry
  1. 01

    reel off

    To list effortlessly and quickly.

Last updated August 10, 2026