to catch fish in a particular area of water
to try to catch fish, for example using a net or a fishing rod
to try to find something by feeling inside a bag, a box etc
to try to make someone tell you something, without asking them directly
to win an advantage from someone's difficult situation
Les goes fishing almost every weekend.
Many boats fish these waters.
Matthew started fishing around in a pile of papers.
She stopped and fished for her door key.
Stephen was fishing, but I didn’t tell him anything.
The boys were fishing for trout.
The powers are distributed differently between government bodies in different places and as a result there are ample opportunities for fishing in troubled waters.
The ship was not permitted to fish in Canadian waters.
When I said I was overweight, I wasn’t fishing for compliments.
‘Having trouble?’ he asked casually, fishing for information.
fish
fishes
fishing
fished
There is no origin for this phrasal verb
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