fished for information

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fished for information" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing the act of trying to obtain information in a subtle or indirect manner. Example: "During the meeting, she fished for information about the upcoming project changes without revealing her own concerns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In the book, Radomski implies that Mitchell fished for information from him in several instances, looking for evidence about high-profile players about whom Mitchell had suspicions.

The New York Times - Sports

For example, Blum's ghost narratives do not show, as Gardner did, how Mrs. Piper fished for information by gauging her sitters' responses to all her wrong answers, or mined the information available from earlier sittings, from sittings with others and from things said while her sitters believed she was unconscious in a trance.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

He was just fishing for information, looking for a story".

The New York Times - Magazine

Yes, the woman is clearly fishing for information.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The name derives from the idea of "fishing" for information.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"What happened?" It was easy, he found, to affect the concerned tone of an adviser, when really he was fishing for information.

The New Yorker

The papers did not bear out Mr. Anaya's charges of political harassment, and Judge Campos at one point even chided his attorney for "fishing for information" on the Federal investigations.

The New York Times

In this case, the VC is definitely fishing for information.

TechCrunch

Is this a 'shopped' deal?" In this case, the VC is definitely fishing for information.

TechCrunch

Keep in mind that some "potential buyers" are just fishing for information about your angel company.

Forbes

Responding to questions about whether Obama might have been fishing for information about possible retirement plans, Ginsburg said, "I don't think he was fishing".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fished for information" when you want to convey a sense of subtlety or indirectness in the way someone is seeking information. It implies a deliberate effort to extract information without being overt.

Common error

Avoid using "fished for information" when the questioning is direct and straightforward. The phrase implies a level of finesse or indirectness that is absent in direct inquiries.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fished for information" functions as a verb phrase within a sentence, describing an action. It implies a subtle or indirect attempt to obtain information. Ludwig's examples show its use in describing investigative actions or subtle inquiries.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fished for information" describes a subtle or indirect attempt to obtain details. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides examples in different contexts, primarily News & Media. The phrase is not overly common but is consistently used to convey the strategic extraction of details, distinguishing it from straightforward inquiries. When writing, it's important to ensure the context reflects the intended sense of subtle inquiry, avoiding confusion with direct questioning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sought information indirectly

Emphasizes the subtle and roundabout manner of seeking details.

tried to extract information subtly

Highlights the effort to gain details without being overt.

hinted around for information

Focuses on using hints and suggestions to elicit details.

probed for details indirectly

Highlights the indirect and careful investigation for specific details.

inquired discreetly for information

Emphasizes the careful and confidential manner of asking.

looked for information surreptitiously

Focuses on the secretive or stealthy manner of seeking details.

wormed information out of

Implies persistent and cunning extraction of details from someone.

pumped for information

Suggests aggressively trying to extract information from someone.

tried to get information by subtle questioning

Explicitly mentions the use of subtle questions to obtain details.

dug around for information

Highlights the active and persistent searching for details.

FAQs

How can I use "fished for information" in a sentence?

You can use "fished for information" to describe someone subtly seeking details, such as, "During the interview, she "fished for information" about the company's future plans."

What does "fished for information" mean?

"Fished for information" means to subtly or indirectly try to get information from someone, often without them realizing your true intent.

Which is more appropriate, "fished for information" or "directly asked for information"?

It depends on the context. "Fished for information" implies subtlety and indirectness, while "directly asked for information" is straightforward and overt. Choose the phrase that best reflects the manner in which the information was sought.

Are there alternative phrases for "fished for information"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "sought information indirectly", "hinted around for information", or "probed for details indirectly" to convey a similar meaning.