auf den Leim gehen
to fall for it; to be taken in
Origin
Based on the (now banned) practice of catching birds with lime: fowlers smeared branches with sticky birdlime and lured birds, which stuck fast. In use since around 1700.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Two-way prepositions with accusative (Wohin? / where to)Wechselpräpositionen mit Akkusativ (Wohin?)
- Two-way prepositions contrast: Wo? vs. Wohin? (where vs. where to)Wechselpräpositionen Kontrast: Wo? vs. Wohin?
- Simple past 'musste' (had to, from müssen)Präteritum 'musste' (müssen)
- Simple past 'wollte' (wanted to, from wollen)Präteritum 'wollte' (wollen)
Examples
Mit dem gefälschten sind auf den Leim gegangen.
Many people fell for the forged letter.