fish
noun
Definitions of fish noun
- A1CountableUncountable
An animal that lives in water, covered in scales and breathes by taking water in through its mouth; or the flesh of these animals when used as food.
Several large fish inhabit the pond.
The fish Sanjay caught was the largest I have ever seen.
I do not enjoy eating fish.
Phrases of fish noun
- an odd/queer fish
A person with strange or unconventional behavior.
• He might be an odd fish, but I believe he has good intentions at heart.
verb
Definitions of fish verb
search
- IntransitiveVerb + adv/prep
To try to find something by using your fingers to search for it.
She was fishing in the toolbox for the right screwdriver.
He fished around in his pocket for his keys.
She fished out her phone from her bag.
- IntransitiveVerb + adv/prep
To try to obtain something without asking directly; to indirectly try to get information.
The manager was fishing for information about our strategy.
She is always fishing for compliments.
He was fishing for updates about the project.
animal
- B1TransitiveIntransitive
To catch fish from a river, sea, or lake; or to attempt to do so.
They are fishing for tuna.
This area of the sea has been overfished in the last decade.
The fishermen go out to fish every day.
Idioms
- There are plenty more fish in the sea
This idiom is used to comfort someone who has ended a relationship, suggesting that there are many other potential partners.
• I know you're upset about losing this job, but don't worry, there are plenty more fish in the sea.
- fish in troubled waters
To exploit a problematic or chaotic situation for personal gain.
• During the economic crisis, some unscrupulous businessmen tried to fish in troubled waters by inflating prices.
- fish or cut bait
Used to urge someone to make a decision and take decisive action or cease delaying and indecisiveness.
• You can't keep hesitating; it's time to fish or cut bait and decide whether to commit fully or give up.
- there are plenty more fish in the sea
This idiom is used to comfort someone who has ended a relationship, suggesting that there are many other potential partners available.
• I know you're upset, but don't forget, there are plenty more fish in the sea.
- be a big fish in a small pond
To be important or influential within a small or limited sphere, but not in a larger context.
• He was a big fish in a small pond in their town, but nobody knew him in the city.
- a fish out of water
Describes a person who feels uncomfortable or out of place because they are in an unfamiliar situation or among people who are very different from them.
• At that new school, he felt like a fish out of water because the students there were so different from his background.
- be neither fish nor fowl
Describing something or someone that possesses characteristics of different types, making it difficult to categorize or define.
• The design of this new product is neither like a traditional phone nor a tablet; it's really neither fish nor fowl.
- have bigger/other fish to fry
To have more important matters to attend to; to have priorities that take precedence.
• I don't have time to deal with these trivial matters right now; I have bigger fish to fry.
- a fishing expedition
An attempt to find out information about something by collecting a lot of data, often in a secretive way.
• The newspaper reporters conducted a wide investigation into the politician's background, but ultimately, it turned out to be a fishing expedition to dig up dirt.
Phrasal Verbs of fish
- fish something out
to extract an item from water or retrieve it from a bag or pocket
• He fished a small fish out of the water.