bait-and-switch

[/beɪt ənd swɪtʃ/]
nounpl: bait-and-switches
isca e troca; estratégia enganosa; ardil comercial
1. a deceptive sales tactic where a customer is attracted by an advertised product or offer, but then switched to a different, usually inferior or more expensive product
The car dealership used a bait-and-switch tactic by advertising a low price that wasn't actually available.
A concessionária usou uma estratégia de isca e troca ao anunciar um preço baixo que na verdade não estava disponível.
2. any deceptive practice of luring someone with one thing and substituting something else, often of lesser value or quality
The job posting was a bait-and-switch; the actual position was completely different from what was advertised.
O anúncio de emprego foi um ardil; o cargo real era completamente diferente do que foi anunciado.
3. a fraudulent scheme where initial promises or offerings are replaced with inferior alternatives
Critics accused the company of running a bait-and-switch by changing the terms of service after customers signed up.
Críticos acusaram a empresa de fazer uma troca enganosa ao mudar os termos de serviço após os clientes se inscreverem.
This term is particularly prevalent in American consumer culture and business discourse, where it refers to deceptive marketing practices that are actually illegal under the FTC Act in the United States. In Brazil, the concept is understood in business and consumer contexts but is often discussed using more colloquial terms like 'cilada' or 'papo furado,' especially in informal speech. The practice is increasingly discussed in digital commerce and online shopping contexts in both countries.
NYC Slang
switcheroo, the old switcheroo, three-card monte (in street context)
Synonyms / Sinônimos
switcherootrickscamfrauddeceptionconswindlesting
Antonyms / Antônimos
honestytransparencyfair dealingintegrity

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
isca e troca; ardil comercial; estratégia enganosa
Most common in urban areas and among English-speaking businesspeople
Rio de Janeiro
cilada; papo furado
More colloquial, informal street usage
São Paulo
ardil comercial; enganação
Often used in consumer protection and business contexts
Portugal
estratégia enganosa; truque comercial; ardileza
Less commonly used; tends toward more formal business terminology

Related Words

false advertisingmisleading marketingconsumer fraudfalse promisemisrepresentationcaveat emptor

Related Idioms & Phrases

fall for the bait-and-switch
pull a bait-and-switch on someone
the bait-and-switch game
classic bait-and-switch
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →