# gone fishing

idiom

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

## Meaning

Unavailable, having taken time off for recreation.

## Examples

- Don't call him today because he has gone fishing.
- The office is empty today because the entire team has gone fishing for the long weekend.
- After years of relentless professional pressure, he finally decided he had gone fishing, leaving his responsibilities behind for a much-needed period of solitude.

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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.