fishing expedition

noun

1

: a legal interrogation or examination to discover information for a later proceeding

2

: an investigation that does not stick to a stated objective but hopes to uncover incriminating or newsworthy evidence

Examples of fishing expedition in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In their motion, though, prosecutors said questions about the suspension would amount to a highly prejudicial fishing expedition unrelated to the charges Urbina faces. —Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025

Turning into a quagmire, and with other Baldoni-leaning content creators and influencers publicly pushing back against their own subpoenas, that legal fishing expedition of sorts was cut short not long after by Lively’s Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Willkie Farr & Gallagher lawyers. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025

By all indications, the DOJ data call is a massive fishing expedition. —Mary Ellen Klas, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2025

Oceania offers plenty of shore excursions in each port, ranging from sightseeing tours to fishing expeditions, all at extra cost. —Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for fishing expedition

• superimposition
• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• competition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition

Legal Definition

fishing expedition

noun

fish·​ing ex·​pe·​di·​tion

-ˌek-spə-ˈdi-shən

1

: an inquiry (as by the use of discovery) that is unnecessarily extensive or unrelated to the lawsuit

2

: an investigation that does not stick to a stated objective but hopes to uncover incriminating or newsworthy evidence