fishing expedition

collocation in English

meaningsoffishingandexpedition

These words are often used together. Click on the links below to explore the meanings. Or,see other collocations withexpedition.
fishing
noun[U]
uk
/ˈfɪʃ.ɪŋ/us
/ˈfɪʃ.ɪŋ/
the sport or job of ...
See more atfishing
expedition
noun
uk
/ˌek.spəˈdɪʃ.ən/us
/ˌek.spəˈdɪʃ.ən/
an organized journey for a ...
See more atexpedition

(Definition offishingandexpeditionfrom theCambridge English Dictionary© Cambridge University Press)

Examplesoffishing expedition

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Well, this is nasty work, afishingexpeditionin search of something to feed an unfocused and uninspired intuition.
From theCambridge English Corpus
This does not imply that every field research endeavor is afishingexpedition.
From theCambridge English Corpus
In addition, the choice of few candidate genes is important to prevent capitalization on chance through afishingexpedition.
From theCambridge English Corpus
A roving commission, afishingexpedition, would do no good to anybody, but would ruffle people's feelings and disturb the kindly atmosphere that now exists.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We have been on afishingexpeditionabout the figure, but we have caught nothing.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
What is to stop a regulator going on afishingexpedition?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
It may even be a local trade union official with a separate agenda who conducts afishingexpeditionor a recruiting drive.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
As a result, immediately afishingexpeditionstarts.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The amendment is designed to prevent a constable going to premises on such a general provision that it amounts to afishingexpedition.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
If he is not satisfied and the request appears to be afishingexpedition, he may refuse it.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Thefishingexpeditionincludes the issue of what people do with information gained under one pretext but perhaps used for something else.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Is it in some way afishingexpedition?
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I am grateful for his quotations from what he described as afishingexpedition.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
The state should take a view that a child should not go on afishingexpedition.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
Apparently, there will now be a five-monthfishingexpedition.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
If we are to publicise extensively the fact that people will retain their right of appeal, it might lead to afishingexpedition.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
But mainly they have gone there on afishingexpeditionfor oil.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
I have some difficulty with the idea of enabling the commission to trawl for information, in afishingexpedition.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
We have not heard how much this elaboratefishingexpeditionwill cost.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
In short, we cannot go on anyfishingexpedition.
From the
Hansard archive
Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under theOpen Parliament Licence v3.0
These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.
Want to learn more?
Go to the definition offishing
Go to the definition ofexpedition
See other collocations withexpedition