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chum in the water. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
chum in the water, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
chum in the water in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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chum in the water, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
An allusion to a feeding frenzy that occurs when fishermen ladle chum into the ocean to attract sharks.
Noun
chum in the water (uncountable)
- (idiomatic) Something done or said that produces or is likely to produce an intense, vigorous reaction, especially with a conscious or deliberate intent of causing such a reaction.
1999 December 3, Nick Oredson, “Behind the Scenes: When Robots Attack, Part 2”, in Time, retrieved 19 May 2022:The year 1999 was a big one for polls here at TIME.com. […] Pre-millennial fever seemed to add an extra edge to all the passions that motivate people to express themselves — political tension, national pride, economic disparity, religious fervor — and our polls were chum in the water for those with an overwhelming need to make themselves heard. […] The polls that touched a nerve and set off huge responses gave us insights.
2012 October 1, Christopher Clarey, “On Golf: A Miracle of Their Own Making”, in New York Times, retrieved 19 May 2022:It happened again in Medinah. […] "Major winner! Major winner!" was the chant-cum-taunt from the crowd as Poulter came out to play his singles match. […] That might have unsettled more bashful characters, but with Poulter, it was throwing chum in the water. […] Poulter won all four of his matches at Medinah.