WordGarden.iofish
A1Pronunciation
UK
- /fˈɪʃ/
US
- /ˈfɪʃ/
Meanings
Noun
an aquatic animal with gills and fins
fish eaten as food
Verb
to catch or try to catch fish
to search around or try to obtain something indirectly
Beyond the definition
We all know fish. They are the animals that live in water, in places like oceans, lakes, and rivers. But "fish" is not just about the animal itself. It is also a common kind of food that people eat in many parts of the world, whether it is fried, grilled, baked, or smoked. The word can also be a verb. If you fish, you try to catch them in water.
The word can also be used in a wider way when someone is trying to get something out of another person without asking directly. For example, if someone is fishing for information, they are trying to get it in a careful or indirect way. So you might catch fish on a trip, eat fish for dinner, or fish for answers in a conversation.
The word "fish" most commonly refers to animals that live in water and usually have gills, fins, and scales. They can be found in rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans, and they come in many shapes and sizes. You might learn about fish in school, see them in an aquarium, or catch them while spending time outdoors. In English, "fish" is often the same in both singular and plural, so people say "one fish" and "two fish."
The word is also widely used for food. When people talk about eating fish, they usually mean the meat of these water animals prepared as a meal. It may be fried, grilled, baked, steamed, smoked, or served raw in some dishes. This meaning is very common in everyday life, especially in cooking, shopping, and restaurant menus.
As a verb, "fish" means to try to catch fish. Someone can fish from a riverbank, a boat, or the shore. The verb can also be used more generally to mean trying to pull something out or get something indirectly. If a person is "fishing for compliments" or "fishing for information," they are hoping to get praise or facts without asking in a direct way.
The word also appears in common expressions. For example, "there are plenty of fish in the sea" means there are many other choices or chances if one does not work out. So whether you are talking about an animal, a meal, or the act of trying to catch something or draw something out of someone, "fish" is a simple word with several important everyday uses.
Examples
- 1
Animal
A silver fish flashed just under the surface of the water.
- 2
Groups
We saw dozens of fish near the rocks.
- 3
Food
They serve fresh fish with lemon and herbs at that restaurant.
- 4
Fishing activity
Some families here fish from the beach before sunrise.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Fishing target
In autumn, people come to this river to fish for salmon.
- Patternfish for + type of fish
try to catch that kind of fish
- 6
Searching by touch
She was fishing in her pocket for some coins.
- Patternfish for + object
search for something by feeling around
- 7
Indirect praise
He kept asking if the report was good, but I knew he was fishing for compliments.
- Phrasefish for compliments
try to get praise indirectly
- 8
Awkward situation
When I started my new job, I felt like a fish out of water.
- Phrasea fish out of water
someone who feels awkward in a new place or situation
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- fishnounverb
Forms
- fishing-ing formverbnoun
- fishespluralnounverb
- fishedpast tenseverbnoun