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
When fishing for mutton snapper and grouper, Lemieux uses a bonito strip 6 to 8 inches long with a lot of meat on it.
—
Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
From there, choose your own adventure: Hike or mountain bike the park’s ten miles of trails, or fish for bass in the river.
—Outside Online, 9 May 2025
Local fishing enthusiasts age 15 and under tested their skills, fishing for Yellow Perch, Crappie and Bluegill, during the Youth Fishing Derby at Piney Run Park on Saturday, June 7.
—Brian T. Krista, Baltimore Sun, 7 June 2025
The general rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish for every gallon.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025
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.
Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
From there, choose your own adventure: Hike or mountain bike the park’s ten miles of trails, or fish for bass in the river.
—Outside Online, 9 May 2025
Local fishing enthusiasts age 15 and under tested their skills, fishing for Yellow Perch, Crappie and Bluegill, during the Youth Fishing Derby at Piney Run Park on Saturday, June 7.
—Brian T. Krista, Baltimore Sun, 7 June 2025
The general rule of thumb is 1 inch of fish for every gallon.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025
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 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share