angling for
Subtly trying for
Angling for means trying to get something through indirect or subtle means rather than asking directly.
The image comes from fishing—casting a line and waiting rather than grabbing.
Someone angling for a promotion might volunteer for visible projects; someone angling for an invitation drops hints about being free that weekend: She's clearly angling for a compliment.
- flatteringExcessively praising, often insincerely
- kissing upInsincere flattery for advantage
- brown nosingObsequious flattery for advancement
- hintingSuggesting indirectly
- currying favorSeeking approval through flattery
maneuvering · fishing · ingratiating · coaxing · scheming · persuading · finagling · positioning · negotiating · lobbying · aiming · strategizing · leveraging · networking · working the room · campaigning · influencing · aspiring
- fishing idiomshook line and sinker, fish out of water, the one that got away, fishing for compliments, fish or cut bait
- askingquestion, inquiry, request, query, demand
angling fordemanding
Requiring great effort
laying cards on the table · spelling out · declaring · announcing
angling foravoiding
Deliberately staying clear
shunning · rejecting · declining · turning down · refusing
angling forgoing with the flow
Accepting situations without resistance
angle, angler, angles, angled, angling, angular, angularity, triangle, triangular