WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
fish′ing expedi′tion, [Informal.]
- Informal Termsa legal proceeding mainly for the purpose of interrogating an adversary, or of examining his or her property and documents, in order to gain useful information.
- Informal Termsany inquiry carried on without any clearly defined plan or purpose in the hope of discovering useful information. Also called fishing trip.
- 1960–65
'fishing expedition' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):