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
Those following a pescatarian diet still need to monitor nutrients like iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin B12, and avoid high-mercury fish for safe, balanced eating.
—
Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Fish for grand slam Arkansas Game and Fish Commission invites anglers to fish for a 2025 Grand Slam Award.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
Of course, no Amazon river cruise is complete without fishing for piranhas—not to eat, but to get an up-close glimpse of their colorful scales and razor-sharp teeth before returning them to the water.
—Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 21 Oct. 2025
Anglers can fish for snakeheads from land or from boats in the C-14 and Hillsboro canals as well as in smaller canals that feed into them.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2025
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Jennifer Lefton, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Fish for grand slam Arkansas Game and Fish Commission invites anglers to fish for a 2025 Grand Slam Award.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
Of course, no Amazon river cruise is complete without fishing for piranhas—not to eat, but to get an up-close glimpse of their colorful scales and razor-sharp teeth before returning them to the water.
—Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 21 Oct. 2025
Anglers can fish for snakeheads from land or from boats in the C-14 and Hillsboro canals as well as in smaller canals that feed into them.
—Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 2025.
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