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
Some were here to fish for tarpon and bonefish, while others simply wanted to unplug and unwind for a week.
—
Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2025
The 42-acre Summit Lake is tucked into the mountains and makes for a secluded paddle or spot to fish for bass.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 18 July 2025
Researchers encountered the fish for five minutes during an initial dive and eight minutes during a second one before returning to the surface.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 7 May 2025
With the help of Captain Kirk Kirkland, owner of Alligator Gar Fishing, the pair chased the fish for two miles and nearly lost it several times before finally bringing it in.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 24 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for fish for
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Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 3 Aug. 2025
The 42-acre Summit Lake is tucked into the mountains and makes for a secluded paddle or spot to fish for bass.
—Graham Averill, Outside Online, 18 July 2025
Researchers encountered the fish for five minutes during an initial dive and eight minutes during a second one before returning to the surface.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 7 May 2025
With the help of Captain Kirk Kirkland, owner of Alligator Gar Fishing, the pair chased the fish for two miles and nearly lost it several times before finally bringing it in.
—Brandi D. Addison, Austin American Statesman, 24 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 21 Aug. 2025.
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