Fish out means to retrieve something from a container or enclosed space, usually by reaching or searching: She fished her keys out of her purse, He fished out a crumpled receipt from his pocket.
The image is of pulling something up from depths, as one pulls a fish from water.
Fish out also describes depleting a body of water of its fish population: The lake has been fished out.
1. retrieve — extract, Concentrated derived substance; pluck (Spirit or yank); hook (Curved catching device); dredge up (Retrieve something buried); unearth · locate · find · grab · remove · produce · come up with
2. deplete — overfished, Depleted by excess harvest; exhausted (Utterly depleted of energy); emptied (Removed all contents from); stripped (Had coverings removed); drained · barren · collapse · decimated · spent · overharvested
Opposites
RETRIEVAL DIRECTIONfish out ≠ put in Place something within; drop in · insert · throw in · slip in · tuck in
DEPLETION STATUSfish out ≠ restock Replenish depleted inventory; replenish · stock · repopulate · fill · supply
Categories
root out: uproot, eradicate, root up, hunt down, track down; pulling: pull, tug, yank, drag, haul
Family
fish, out, fishing, fisherman, jellyfish, goldfish, shellfish, fishes, fished
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- Top 50,000
- Profile
- Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G