2fish verb
fish·es; fished; fish·ing 1 a [no obj] : to catch or try to catch fish
▪ I love to fish. ▪ We spent the afternoon fishing for trout.
b [+ obj] : to catch or try to catch fish in (a river, stream, etc.)
▪ They fished the stream all morning. 2 [no obj] : to search for something by feeling : to use your hand to try to find something
▪ She was fishing around in her purse for her keys.
▪ I love to fish. ▪ We spent the afternoon fishing for trout.
b [+ obj] : to catch or try to catch fish in (a river, stream, etc.)
▪ They fished the stream all morning.
▪ She was fishing around in her purse for her keys.
fish for [phrasal verb]
fish for (something) : 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. [=as a way of getting people to say that they like the food he cooks] ▪ fishing for answers
▪ I think he offers apologies for his cooking as a way of fishing for compliments. [=as a way of getting people to say that they like the food he cooks] ▪ fishing for answers
fish or cut bait
US, informal : to stop hesitating and choose to do or not do something
▪ It's time for the company to fish or cut bait. We either take the job or turn it down.
▪ It's time for the company to fish or cut bait. We either take the job or turn it down.
fish out [phrasal verb]
fish (something) out or fish out (something) 1 : to pull (something) out of water or some other liquid
▪ The police fished the car out of the harbor. ▪ She fished the sugar packet out of her iced tea. 2 : to pull (something) out from a container, bag, etc.
▪ She reached into her purse and fished out her keys.
▪ The police fished the car out of the harbor. ▪ She fished the sugar packet out of her iced tea.
▪ She reached into her purse and fished out her keys.
