# fishing expedition

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/fishing-expedition
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A search for information, especially incriminating information, that is conducted without specific direction or goal, in the hope that something may turn up.

## Examples

- The police are on a fishing expedition to find any evidence of crime.
- The lawyer's questions felt like a fishing expedition, as he had no proof and was just hoping to find a mistake.
- The audit quickly devolved into a fishing expedition, with investigators scouring every financial record in hopes of uncovering some hidden irregularity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.