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
Tan says the ingredients in the salad represent different things: fish for abundance, vegetables for vitality and so on.
—
Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 26 Jan. 2025
Since the Delta smelt, a food source for larger fish including salmon and sea bass as well as sea lions is near extinction, the government has been pumping less water out to save the fish for about 20 years, Holyoke added.
—Terry Collins, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
The isopods were first fished for food specifically in 2017, according to the study, and quickly became a specialty menu item.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
The team behind Stray Dog Designs in Tennessee created a massive chandelier modeled after a school of fish for the Beach Club’s dining area.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fish for
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 26 Jan. 2025
Since the Delta smelt, a food source for larger fish including salmon and sea bass as well as sea lions is near extinction, the government has been pumping less water out to save the fish for about 20 years, Holyoke added.
—Terry Collins, USA TODAY, 21 Jan. 2025
The isopods were first fished for food specifically in 2017, according to the study, and quickly became a specialty menu item.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
The team behind Stray Dog Designs in Tennessee created a massive chandelier modeled after a school of fish for the Beach Club’s dining area.
—Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for fish for
Cite this Entry
“Fish for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fish%20for. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share