# fish

/ˈfɪʃ/ (US) · /fˈɪʃ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fish
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. aquatic animal

noun · CEFR A1

a cold-blooded animal that lives in water and breathes through gills.

For teachers: a cold-blooded vertebrate animal that lives in water, typically possessing fins and breathing through gills.

- The children spent the afternoon watching the colorful fish swim in the pond.
- Marine biologists are studying how certain species of deep-sea fish have adapted to extreme pressure and total darkness.

### 2. food

noun · CEFR A1

the meat of a fish eaten as food.

For teachers: the flesh of fish used as a dietary protein source.

- We usually have grilled fish with a side of vegetables for dinner.
- The restaurant is famous for serving fresh fish caught by local boats earlier that morning.

### 3. to catch fish

verb · CEFR A2

to try to catch fish from a river, lake, or the sea.

For teachers: to attempt to catch fish or other aquatic animals for sport or food.

- My grandfather likes to fish in the lake behind his house every weekend.
- Commercial vessels fish these waters extensively during the summer months to meet the high demand for tuna.

### 4. to search for something

verb · CEFR B1

to search for something hidden among other things using your hands.

For teachers: to search for or attempt to find something by reaching into a container or among other objects.

- She had to fish around in her large bag for several minutes to find her keys.
- He reached into the dark drawer and fished for a spare battery until his fingers brushed against something metallic.

### 5. to seek information

verb · CEFR B2

to try to get information or a compliment from someone in an indirect way.

For teachers: to attempt to elicit information, praise, or a specific reaction through indirect questioning or artifice.

- I think he is just fishing for a compliment when he says his work is bad.
- The journalist was clearly fishing for a headline by asking the senator leading questions about the scandal.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'fishing for compliments'.

### 6. vulnerable person

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang

a person who is easily tricked or a new prisoner who is at risk.

For teachers: a person who is easily swindled or a new, vulnerable inmate in a prison context.

- The professional gamblers realized the newcomer was a fish and took his money.
- In the harsh environment of the correctional facility, the older inmates immediately identified the new arrival as a fish.

## Examples

- The colorful fish swims in the small tank.
- We spent the entire afternoon at the lake trying to catch some fish for dinner.
- Marine biologists are currently studying how various species of deep-sea fish adapt to the extreme pressure and total darkness of the ocean floor.

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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.