An Encylopedia Britannica Company

fish

1 fish /ˈfɪʃ/ noun
plural fish or fishes
1 fish
/ˈfɪʃ/
noun
plural fish or fishes
Britannica Dictionary definition of FISH
[count] : a cold-blooded animal that lives in water, breathes with gills, and usually has fins and scales
see color picture on this page
Usage When you are talking about more than one fish, the plural fish is more commonly used than fishes. When you are talking about more than one kind or species of fish, both fishes and fish are used.
[noncount] : the meat of a fish eaten as food

a big fish in a small pond

(chiefly US) or British a big fish in a little pond
: a person who is very well known or important in a small group of people but who is not known or important outside that group

a fish out of water

: a person who is in a place or situation that seems unnatural or uncomfortable

drink like a fish

see 1drink

fish in the sea

informal
used to say that there are many more people available for a romantic relationship

fish to fry

informal
: things to do or deal with

neither fish nor fowl

: a person or thing that does not belong to a particular class or category

odd/queer fish

British, informal
: a strange or unusual person
see also cold fish, kettle of fish at kettle

— fishless

/ˈfɪʃləs/ adjective

— fishlike

/ˈfɪsˌlaɪk/ adjective
2 fish /ˈfɪʃ/ verb
fishes; fished; fishing
2 fish
/ˈfɪʃ/
verb
fishes; fished; fishing
Britannica Dictionary definition of FISH
[no object] : to catch or try to catch fish
[+ object] : to catch or try to catch fish in (a river, stream, etc.)
[no object] : to search for something by feeling : to use your hand to try to find something

fish for

[phrasal verb]
fish for (something)
: to ask for or try to get (something, such as praise or attention) in an indirect way

fish or cut bait

US, informal
: to stop hesitating and choose to do or not do something

fish out

[phrasal verb]
fish (something) out or fish out (something)
: to pull (something) out of water or some other liquid
: to pull (something) out from a container, bag, etc.