fishing expedition
noun
1
: a legal interrogation or examination to discover information for a later proceeding
2
: an investigation that does not stick to a stated objective but hopes to uncover incriminating or newsworthy evidence
Examples of fishing expedition in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In other words, there would be new restrictions on pretextual stops, which disproportionately subject Black and Latino drivers to ineffective fishing expeditions for more serious crimes.
—
Erika D. Smithcolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2023
Democrats have denounced the inquiry as a fishing expedition and a political stunt.
—Luke Broadwater, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2023
Spota’s staff members, who would have had to request the warrants for that data, waved off the idea as a fishing expedition.
—Robert Kolker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023
The two kept in touch over the years, with Jacobson inviting Truman on hunting and fishing expeditions on the Missouri River.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2023
The Magnolia Network star, 45, shared a fun video of son Crew, 5, enjoying an indoor fishing expedition as the two try to beat the south's heat.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023
The White House has denied wrongdoing and called Comer’s inquiries a hyper-partisan fishing expedition.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2023
But Assistant District Attorney Adam C. Lally said the defense is conducting a fishing expedition.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 24 May 2023
The case is a fishing expedition—or, more accurately, a case about fishing expeditions.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 1 May 2023
Erika D. Smithcolumnist, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2023
Democrats have denounced the inquiry as a fishing expedition and a political stunt.
—Luke Broadwater, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2023
Spota’s staff members, who would have had to request the warrants for that data, waved off the idea as a fishing expedition.
—Robert Kolker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2023
The two kept in touch over the years, with Jacobson inviting Truman on hunting and fishing expeditions on the Missouri River.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2023
The Magnolia Network star, 45, shared a fun video of son Crew, 5, enjoying an indoor fishing expedition as the two try to beat the south's heat.
—Angela Andaloro, Peoplemag, 8 Aug. 2023
The White House has denied wrongdoing and called Comer’s inquiries a hyper-partisan fishing expedition.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2023
But Assistant District Attorney Adam C. Lally said the defense is conducting a fishing expedition.
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 24 May 2023
The case is a fishing expedition—or, more accurately, a case about fishing expeditions.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 1 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fishing expedition.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fishing expedition
Cite this Entry
“Fishing expedition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fishing%20expedition. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
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