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

Not fishing for compliments, but some real constructive feedback. —Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Chief among those concerns is access to Boca Chica Beach, a public state park that’s popular among people fishing for speckled trout, flounder and redfish. —Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 2 May 2025

Back at the resort, chefs will clean and prepare the daily catch, turning it into sashimi, tartare, or grilled fish for dinner. —Vivian Song, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2025

Visitors are encouraged to try catching blue crabs; hunting for bay scallops; or fishing for flounder, sea trout, redfish, and Spanish mackerel. —Casey Barber, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2025

Rhymes for fish for

• abhor
• abor
• adore
• afore
• ardour
• ashore
• backdoor
• before
• bookstore
• candour
• centaur
• claymore