# shark bait

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/shark-bait
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

One who is in a precarious or vulnerable position.

## Examples

- If you go into that dangerous neighborhood alone, you are shark bait.
- The inexperienced intern was sent into the high-stakes meeting without any preparation, making him total shark bait for the aggressive board members.
- Without a clear strategy or legal protection, the small startup became shark bait for the massive corporations waiting to acquire its assets at a fraction of their value.

## Origin

From shark + bait.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.