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

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

Anglers can fish for snakeheads from land or from boats in the C-14 and Hillsboro canals as well as in smaller canals that feed into them. —Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for fish for

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