What are the definitions of “fish out”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Remove something from a bag, pocket, etc.
She reached into her handbag and FISHED some coins OUT.
- 2Remove from water, such as the sea, rivers, etc.
It's fallen in the pool- I'll have to FISH it OUT.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “fish out”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb fish out is to remove something from a container, such as a bag or pocket, or from water, like a river or pool. It often involves using your hands or a tool to search for and retrieve the item.
What are the different verb forms of “fish out”?
| Root Verb | fish out |
| Third Person Singular Present | fishes out |
| Present Participle | fishing out |
| Simple Past | fished out |
| Past Participle | fished out |
Example
She fished out her keys from her purse.
Example
He fishes out his wallet to pay for the meal.
Example
She is fishing out her phone from her backpack.
Example
He fished out the toy from the pool yesterday.
Example
The lost ring was finally fished out of the pond.
What kind of phrasal verb is “fish out”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Transitive verb
“fish out” is a transitive phrasal verb because it requires a direct object to complete its meaning. The direct object specifies what is being removed, obtained, or eliminated.
Example
She fished out her keys from her purse.
Example
He fished the toy out of the pool.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“fish out” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She fished out her keys from her purse.
Example
He fished the toy out of the pool.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “fish out”?
To try to get information from someone, often indirectly or subtly.
Example
He was fishing for information about the company's plans during the meeting.
Good things to know
Does “fish out” have an informal or formal tone?
Fish out is a neutral to informal phrasal verb. It is commonly used in everyday conversations and can be used in both casual and more formal settings, depending on the context. For example, it can be used in a casual conversation about retrieving an item from a bag or in a more formal context when discussing retrieving something from water.
