fish for
phrasal verb
fished for; fishing for; fishes for
: to ask for or try to get (something, such as praise or attention) in an indirect way
I think he offers apologies for his cooking as a way of fishing for compliments.
fishing for answers
Examples of fish for in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Designed to resist abrasion caused by waders, shed water and insulate all day long, these trousers are ready for autumn water adventures, from Gauley River rafting to fishing for striped bass.
—
Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 18 Sep. 2024
Reed and other members of the Karuk Tribe have been fishing for fall-run Chinook.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
There's no good answer to a question like that, but Baier went fishing for one.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024
In other words, organizations are fishing for talent in a smaller pond.
—Matthew Reeves, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
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Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 18 Sep. 2024
Reed and other members of the Karuk Tribe have been fishing for fall-run Chinook.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2024
There's no good answer to a question like that, but Baier went fishing for one.
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 17 Oct. 2024
In other words, organizations are fishing for talent in a smaller pond.
—Matthew Reeves, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fish for
Dictionary Entries Near fish for
Cite this Entry
“Fish for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fish%20for. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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