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June 15, 2016 Word of the Day

fish /ˈfɪʃ/ verb
fish
/ˈfɪʃ/
verb

fishes; fished; fishing

The young girl is fishing at the lake.
The young girl is fishing at the lake.
Definition of FISH

1 a [no object] : to catch or try to catch fish

  • I love to fish.

  • We spent the afternoon fishing for trout.

b [+ object] : to catch or try to catch fish in (a river, stream, etc.)

  • They fished the stream all morning.

2 [no object] : 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.

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

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.

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.

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