fish for
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
After all of that flying, mom Jackie delivered Sandy a fish for dinner.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
Recreational swimming is not permitted, yet anglers fishing for tilapia, largemouth bass and carp are a common sight along the rocky sides of the soft-bottom areas.
—
Mack Baysinger
follow,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
Just let the hose wash the fish for 10 minutes or so to drain away as much slime as possible, then wipe the fish down with paper towels before putting it on the cutting board.
—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
25 June 2026
The restaurants get the fish for free, courtesy of divers who participate in pre-tournament hunts.
—
Rachel Nuwer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for fish for
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Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
2 July 2026
Recreational swimming is not permitted, yet anglers fishing for tilapia, largemouth bass and carp are a common sight along the rocky sides of the soft-bottom areas.
—
Mack Baysinger
follow,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2026
Just let the hose wash the fish for 10 minutes or so to drain away as much slime as possible, then wipe the fish down with paper towels before putting it on the cutting board.
—
Joe Cermele,
Outdoor Life,
25 June 2026
The restaurants get the fish for free, courtesy of divers who participate in pre-tournament hunts.
—
Rachel Nuwer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 June 2026
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 7 Jul. 2026.
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