Decoy
'diːkɔɪ
Definitions
2 meaningsA person or thing used to mislead or lure someone into a trap or dangerous situation.
'diːkɔɪ
A thing or person used to trick or lure someone into a trap.
The police used a decoy car to catch the thieves.
💡 Simply: A decoy is like a fake or a trick. Imagine you put a fake dog in your yard to scare off other dogs - that fake dog is a decoy!
👶 For kids: A decoy is something that tricks you. Like a fake bird that makes real birds come closer.
More Examples
The company used a decoy offer to gauge customer interest.
The rabbit hid behind a decoy made to look like a bush.
How It's Used
"The enemy used a decoy tank to draw our fire away from the main force."
"Hunters use a decoy to attract ducks to a specific location."
"Police used an undercover officer as a decoy to catch the suspect."
To lure or lead someone into a trap or undesirable situation.
'diːkɔɪ
To lure or trick someone into a trap.
The detectives decoyed the suspect to a specific location.
💡 Simply: To decoy someone means to trick them into doing something. Like when you set up a fake lemonade stand to trick your friends into coming over to your house!
👶 For kids: To decoy means to trick someone to come to a place or do something.
More Examples
The bank robber tried to decoy the security guards.
They decoyed the customers with a fake sale.
How It's Used
"The hunters decoyed the deer closer with calls and scent lures."
"The website was designed to decoy users into giving away their passwords."
"The general planned to decoy enemy troops away from the city."
From Dutch *de kooi* (the cage), originally referring to a cage or enclosure used to trap ducks. The term evolved to describe the lure used to entice the birds.
Originally used in the 17th century to describe specially constructed ponds or waterways used to trap ducks. Later generalized to any object or person used for the same purpose.
Memory tip
Think of a fake duck used to attract real ducks – the fake is the decoy!
Practice
Word Origin
Root: *de kooi*