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

Stankoven had plenty of time fish for a rebound and eventually stuff it into the net because other Avs players had gone in the other direction away from their net. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025

Those following a pescatarian diet still need to monitor nutrients like iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin B12, and avoid high-mercury fish for safe, balanced eating. —Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2025

Fish for grand slam Arkansas Game and Fish Commission invites anglers to fish for a 2025 Grand Slam Award. —Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025

Of course, no Amazon river cruise is complete without fishing for piranhas—not to eat, but to get an up-close glimpse of their colorful scales and razor-sharp teeth before returning them to the water. —Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 21 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for fish for

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