Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - fish

~1 n plural fish or fishes 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 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 drink2 (2), a fine/pretty kettle of fish kettle (4)) ~2 v 1 to try to catch fish + for  (We're fishing for trout.) 2 T 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 I 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 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 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