I lured him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I lured him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone has been enticed or attracted into a particular action or situation, often with a sense of deception or manipulation. Example: "Using a false promise of treasure, I lured him into the abandoned house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

I lured him there on 25 February under false pretences and, just as he began to suspect that something was up, I went for it.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

DAVID DEWITT, a co-worker of mine at The New York Times who is also both an actor and a playwright; I lured him to the game by telling him I needed help moving a couch.

The New York Times

The title is taken from a marching song he learned with the army: "A yellow bird/With a yellow bill/Was perched upon/ my windowsill./I lured him in/With a piece of bread/And then I smashed/His fucking head".

The Guardian - Books

So, Ms. Noto Clark said, "I lured him into the county" by showing him what had been built more than a century before as Boulderberg Mansion, and later operated as a restaurant called Boulderberg Manor in Tompkins Cove, the northern part of the Rockland County Town of Stony Point.

The New York Times

"A yellow bird/With a yellow bill," it goes, "was perched upon/ my windowsill./I lured him in/With a piece of bread/And then I smashed/His fucking head …" The lines, which looped round and through his 2004 tour of Iraq, snagged unshakeably in his mind; as he was writing the novel, the bird – suckered in then set upon – came to stand for "the lack of control soldiers have over what happens to them.

The Guardian - Books

I lured him with treats to use them instead of jumping".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

I finally lured him out with a stick, but when I tried to grab his collar he ran through a nearby campground and back toward the water.

Los Angeles Times

I'd lured him away from the festivities to meet with a corrupt Russian FSB agent, but in my haste to take him out I loosed a silenced round at the wrong person.

Vice

I'd lured him away from the festivities to meet with a corrupt Russian FSB agent, but in my haste to take him out, I loosed a silenced round at the wrong person.

Vice

I sort of lured him into an idea that he fell in love with.

The Guardian

I know what lured him on: first, the idea of the military man, his manners as buffed as his boots, both obeying and toying with the codes of his livelihood; second, the besotted woman — what used to be known as a silly goose — who is never permitted, thanks to a sympathetic camera, to shrink into a mere victim of circumstance.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "I lured him" when you want to emphasize a sense of enticement or trickery in getting someone to go somewhere or do something. It suggests a deliberate act of persuasion, often with underlying motives.

Common error

Avoid using "lured" if the situation simply involves attracting someone without any element of deception or manipulation. Terms like "attracted" or "invited" might be more appropriate if your intention wasn't to deceive the person.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I lured him" functions as a statement describing a past action where the speaker intentionally enticed someone to go somewhere or do something. As Ludwig shows, this often implies a degree of deception or manipulation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I lured him" is a statement describing an action of intentional enticement, potentially involving deception. Ludwig AI categorizes this phrase as grammatically correct with common usage, primarily within news and media contexts. Alternatives such as "I enticed him" or "I attracted him" offer subtle variations in meaning. When writing with this phrase, it's important to be mindful of the negative connotations associated with the act of luring and to consider whether a more neutral term would be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I enticed him

Emphasizes a deliberate attempt to attract through appealing means.

I attracted him

Focuses on the inherent appeal that drew the person in.

I seduced him

Suggests a more persuasive, possibly manipulative, form of attraction.

I coaxed him

Implies gentle persuasion and encouragement to influence someone's actions.

I inveigled him

Suggests using flattery or deception to persuade someone.

I tempted him

Highlights the use of something desirable to draw someone in.

I induced him

Focuses on successfully persuading or causing someone to do something.

I persuaded him

Implies convincing someone through reasoning or argument.

I convinced him

Highlights the act of making someone believe something.

I manipulated him

Suggests controlling someone's actions often in a negative way.

FAQs

How can I use "I lured him" in a sentence?

You can use "I lured him" to describe a situation where you enticed someone to go somewhere or do something, often implying a degree of deception or manipulation. For example, "I lured him to the surprise party under the guise of a casual dinner".

What are some alternatives to saying "I lured him"?

You can use alternatives like "I attracted him", "I enticed him", or "I persuaded him" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "I lured him" versus "I invited him"?

"I lured him" implies a degree of trickery or manipulation in getting someone to do something, whereas "I invited him" suggests a straightforward, honest request. Use "I lured him" when there was an element of deception or a hidden motive.

What's the difference between "I lured him" and "I trapped him"?

"I lured him" describes the act of enticing someone into a situation, while "I trapped him" suggests that once there, the person is unable to leave or escape. "Luring" is about the initial enticement, and "trapping" is about the subsequent inability to get out.