fish out
To search for by rummaging, and then extract (an item from e.g. a container); to obtain.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I fish out my keys from my deep bag.”
“He had to fish out his wallet from the bottom of his backpack to pay for the coffee.”
“She paused to fish out a crumpled letter from her coat pocket, her hands trembling slightly as she prepared to read the news.”
- 01
big fish
An important person.
- 02
big fish in a small pond
One who has achieved a high rank or is highly esteemed, but only in a small, relatively unimportant, or little known location or organization.
- 03
bigger fish to fry
A much more pressing issue to attend to.
- 04
cold fish
A heartless individual; a person lacking empathy and emotion.
- 05
fish in troubled waters
To try to take advantage of a confused or troubled situation.
- 06
fish or cut bait
To make a decision, especially after a period of delay; to either take action now or forgo the opportunity.
- 07
fish out of water
A person in unfamiliar and often uncomfortable surroundings.
- 08
fish to fry
A matter to attend to.
Last updated August 10, 2026