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
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.
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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
Not fishing for compliments, but some real constructive feedback.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Chief among those concerns is access to Boca Chica Beach, a public state park that’s popular among people fishing for speckled trout, flounder and redfish.
—Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fish for
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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
Not fishing for compliments, but some real constructive feedback.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Chief among those concerns is access to Boca Chica Beach, a public state park that’s popular among people fishing for speckled trout, flounder and redfish.
—Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 2 May 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 13 Jun. 2025.
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