fish

1 /fIS/ noun plural fish or fishes (C)

1 an animal that lives in water, and uses its fins (1) and tail to swim: The lake is well stocked with fish. | catch a fish: Ronny caught three huge fish this afternoon.

2 (U) the flesh of a fish used as food: White wine is traditionally drunk with fish.

3 like a fish out of water feeling uncomfortable because you are in an unfamiliar place or situation: I felt like a fish out of water in my new school.

4 there are plenty more fish in the sea used to tell someone whose relationship has ended that there are other people they can have a relationship with

5 neither fish nor fowl neither one thing nor another

6 have other/bigger fish to fry informal to have other things to do, especially more important things: I can't deal with this now, I've got other fish to fry!

7 an odd fish/a queer fish BrE old-fashioned someone who is slightly strange or crazy

8 a cold fish an unfriendly person who seems to have no strong feelings

9 a big fish in a little pond someone who is important or who has influence over a very small area

—see also: drink like a fish drink 2 (2), a fine/pretty kettle of fish kettle (4) 2 verb

1 (I) to try to catch fish

(+ for): We're fishing for trout.

2 (transitive always + adv/prep) also fish out to find something after searching through a bag, pocket etc, and take it out : fish sth out: Eric fished a peppermint out of the bag.

3 (intransitive always +adv/prep) informal to search for something in a bag, pocket etc

(+ about/around): She fished around in her purse and pulled out a photo. (+ for): Chris fished in his pocket for a coin.

4 (T) to try to catch fish in a particular area of water: Other nations are forbidden to fish the waters within 200 miles of the coast.

5 (T) also fish out to pull someone or something out of water : fish sb out: Police frogmen fished the body out of the East River a week later.

6 fish for compliments to try to make someone say something nice about you, usually by asking a question: It's sickening the way he's always fishing for compliments when she's around.

7 fish for information/news/gossip etc to try to find out secret information: Reporters were hanging around fishing for information on the Congressman's resignation.

8 fish in troubled waters to try to gain an advantage from other people's problems

9 fish or cut bait AmE spoken used to tell someone to do what they say they will, or stop talking about it