fish for

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

For Dylan Feierabend, there are few things more life-affirming than fishing for redtail surfperch and smelt at Centerville Beach in rural Humboldt County. — Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

In summer, those same helicopters can whisk you to a remote stream or high mountain lake to fly-fish for trout, or a mountaintop for yoga and meditation. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026

There’s also footage of a rare wild African black panther as well as chimpanzees using unique tools to fish for algae. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

The result ravaged communities that rely on the ocean – fish, birds, marine mammals, and people who fish for their livelihoods throughout the eastern tropical Pacific. — Julia Cole, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for fish for

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