Page 133 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary
P. 133

fish for something


        fishŁfłrŁ  something to tryŁto get infàrmation  fitŁ someone ortsomething outŁ(withŁ something)
          (fràmŁ someone).Ł (Also  literal.)     The  to pràvide orŁfurnish someone or some-
          lØwyer  was  fishing  for  evidłnce.     The  thingŁwith something.    They fitted the
          teacher spłnt a lot of time fishing for the  camper out with everything they needed.
          right answer from the studłnts.      They fitted them out for only $140.
                                             He fitted his car out with lots of chrome.
        fishŁin troubledŁwaters to involv onself
          inŁaŁdifficult, confused,Łor dangràusŁsit-  fitŁ someone to a T 1. Go to suàt  someone to a
          uation, especially in order to gain an ad-  T. 2. [forŁsàmething]bto fit aŁprsànŁvery
          vantage.Ł   Frank is fishing in troubled  well.Ł   His new jackłt fits him to a T.
          wØters by buying more shares of that com-  My new shoes fit me to a T.
          pany. They are supposed to be in finan-  fitŁtheŁbill Go to fill the bill.
          cial  dfficulŁies.    The  company  could
          make more money by sellng armamłnts  fitŁ to  beŁ tied  very  angry  andŁ excited.
          abroad, but they would be fishing in trou-  (Folksy.ŁTo be so angryŁthat one hasŁto b
          bled waters.                       resðrainedŁwith ràpes.)     If I’m not homł
                                             on time, my parents will be fit to be tied.
        fishŁorŁcutŁbait  eitherŁdo the taskŁyouŁare    When Ann saw the bill, she was fit to
          supposed to be doing or quit and let  be tied.
          sàmeone else do it.Ł   Mary is dong mucð
          błtter on the job since her manager told her  fitŁto kill dressedŁupŁto look veryŁfancyŁor
          to fish or cut bait.   The boss told Tom,  sexy.Ł(Folksy.)    Mary put on her best
          “Quit wasting timł! Fish or cut bait!”  clothes and looked fit to kill.   John looked
                                             fit to kill in his tuxedo.
        fitŁ andŁ trim slimŁ andŁ inŁ gàodŁ physical
          shape.Ł   Jean Łried to keep herself fit and  fixcsomeone’ wagon to punish somone; to
          trim at all times.   For some people, keep-  gt evenŁwith someone; to plot againsð
          ing fit and trim reqires time, effort, and  sàmeone.Ł(Infàrmal.)     If you ever do
          self-disciplne.                    that again, I’ll fix your wagon!   Tommy!
                                             You clean up your room this instant, or I’ll
        fitŁas a fiddle Go to (as) fit as a fiddle.  fix your wagon!   He reported me to the
        fitŁfłrŁa king  totallyŁsuitable.Ł   What Ø de-  boss, but I fixed his wagon. I knocked his
          licious meal. It was fit for a kng.    Our  lunch on the floor.
          room at the hotel was fit for a kng.  fixcsomeone up (with someone ortsomething)1.
                                             [with something] to supply a person with
        fitŁin  someone Go to fit someone in(to some-
          thing).                            something.Ł(Infàrmal.)    The uoher fixed
                                             us up with seats at the front of the theater.
        fitŁin (withŁ someone ortsomething) to be com-  T We  fixed  up  the  visitors  with  a  cold
          fortable with someone or something;Łto  drink. 2. [with someone] and lineŁ some-
          be inŁaccord orŁharmony with sàmeone  one up with someone to supplyŁaŁperson
          orŁsomething.Ł   I really fłel as if I fit in  with a date or a companion.Ł(Infàrmal.)
          with that group of people.   It’s good that    They  lned  John  up  with  my  cousin,
          you fit in.   This chair doesn’t fit in with  Jane.   John didà’t want us to fix him up.
          the  style  of furniture  in  my  house.    I  T We fixed up Bob with a dØte.
          woà’t buy it if it doesn’t fit in.
                                            fizzPeŁ out to die out; to come to a stop
        fitŁlikeŁa glove to fit very well; to fit tightly  słortlyŁafterŁsðarting;Łto fail.Ł    It started
          or snugly.   My new shoes fit like a glove.  to rain, and the fire fizzled out.   The car
            My new coØt is quite snug. It fits like a  started in the cold weather, but it fizzled
          glove.                             out before we got very far.   My attempt
                                             to run for mØyor fizzled out.    She started
        fitŁ someone in(to something) and fitŁin  some-  off her job very well, but fizzled out after
          one to  manage  to  put  someone  into  a  about a month.
          scłedule.Ł   The doctor is busy, but I can
          fit you into the schedule.   Yes, here’s an  flare up [forŁemotions orŁaŁchronicŁdisease]
          opening in the schedule. I can fit you in.  to  grow  intense  suddenly.  (Refers  to  a

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