fish

fish

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Pronunciation

/fɪʃ/

• fɪʃ: /f/ (voiceless labiodental fricative) + /ɪ/ (near-front near-unrounded vowel) + /ʃ/ (voiceless postalveolar fricative)

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Word Form Variations

• Singular Noun: fish

• Plural Noun: fish (regular and most common), fishes (less common, often refers to different species of fish)

• Verb (base form): fish

• Verb (third-person singular present): fishes

• Verb (present participle): fishing

• Verb (past tense/past participle): fished

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

• Definition 1: A cold-blooded, legless vertebrate animal with gills for breathing underwater and fins for swimming. Most fish are covered with scales and live entirely in water.

• Synonyms: aquatic vertebrate, piscine creature

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it's a specific type of animal. Could be contrasted with land animals or birds.)

• Definition 2: The flesh of fish used as food.

• Synonyms: seafood, catch, piscine meat

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for food type.)

Verb

• Definition 1: To attempt to catch fish, typically with a rod and line, net, or other equipment.

• Synonyms: angle, trawl, net, hook

• Antonyms: release, let go (if referring to the caught fish)

• Definition 2: To search for something in a thorough or indirect way.

• Synonyms: seek, probe, delve, hunt

• Antonyms: ignore, disregard, overlook

• Definition 3: (Informal) To try to elicit information or a reaction, often in a subtle or indirect manner.

• Synonyms: pry, hint, insinuate, sound out

• Antonyms: state directly, declare, announce

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "All of a sudden he saw a great big fish with scales flashing in the sun, leap out of the water." (Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea, 1952) - Noun (animal)

• "She didn't know whether to fish for compliments or simply acknowledge the praise gracefully." (Fictional example, but common figurative use) - Verb (to try to elicit something)

Newspapers:

• "Local authorities issued a warning yesterday about a harmful algae bloom that could pose a threat to marine fish populations." (The Daily Chronicle, 2025) - Noun (animal, plural)

• "The government has promised to crack down on illegal fishing activities in the country's territorial waters." (The East African Standard, 2025) - Verb (gerund, referring to the act of catching)

Online Publications:

• "Our comprehensive guide teaches you how to clean and fillet a whole fish for your next dinner party." (Serious Eats, 2024) - Noun (food)

• "New research suggests that certain deep-sea fish can withstand extreme pressures previously thought impossible." (National Geographic Online, 2025) - Noun (animal, plural)

• "Are you trying to fish for information about the new product launch? Because I'm not giving anything away." (Reddit thread comment, r/technology, June 29, 2025) - Verb (to try to elicit information)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: "There's always a bigger fish." (Qui-Gon Jinn, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, 1999) - Noun (figurative, referring to a more significant challenge or threat)

• Television Series: "We're going to fish for clues at the crime scene, see what turns up." (Detective character, CSI: Miami, Season 7 Episode 10) - Verb (to search for something)

• Song Lyrics: "And the fish in the sea, they don't know me, but I'm gonna swim with them anyway." (The Lumineers, "Ophelia," 2016) - Noun (animal, plural)

• Video Game: "Collect 5 fish from the lake to complete the quest." (In-game objective, Stardew Valley, various versions) - Noun (animal/item)

• Social Media: (Twitter post) "Just had the most amazing grilled fish for lunch! So fresh." (@FoodieAdventures, June 30, 2025) - Noun (food)

General Public Discourse:

• "Did you go fishing this weekend?" (Casual conversation) - Verb (gerund, referring to the activity)

• "I'm going to fish out that old book from the attic later." (Informal spoken English, meaning to retrieve or find) - Verb (phrasal verb "fish out", to retrieve)

• "He's always fishing for compliments, it's quite annoying." (Everyday complaint about someone's behavior) - Verb (to try to elicit compliments)

• "We need to fish through all these old documents to find the original contract." (Team meeting discussion) - Verb (to search through)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Fish

1. "There's always a bigger fish." (Qui-Gon Jinn, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, 1999)

2. "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." (Chinese Proverb, widely attributed)

3. "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." (Muhammad Ali, often paraphrased with "If you don't fish, you can't catch anything.")

4. "Many a fine fish has been caught by a quiet line." (Laozi, often quoted in contexts of patience)

5. "I'm going to fish for secrets now." (Charles II of Spain, reported quote)

6. "How do you fish for a whale?" (Captain Ahab, Moby Dick by Herman Melville, 1851)

7. "A fish rots from the head down." (Latin Proverb, meaning corruption starts at the top)

8. "It is easier to fish than to argue with a net." (African Proverb)

9. "You can't buy happiness, but you can buy a fishing rod, and that's pretty close." (Unknown, popular among fishing enthusiasts)

10. "The fish is the last to know it is in water." (Attributed to various sources including a Buddhist proverb, often used metaphorically for being unaware of one's own environment)

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Etymology

The word "fish" has a very old and interesting history! It comes from the Old English word "fisc". This "fisc" was used to mean both the aquatic animal we know today and, sometimes, any animal that lived primarily in water.

If we go back even further, "fisc" itself came from a common ancestor language called Proto-Germanic, where the word was *fiskaz. This fiskaz is the reason why many Germanic languages today have similar words for fish (like "Fisch" in German, "vis" in Dutch, and "fisk" in Swedish).

And before Proto-Germanic, linguistic experts believe it can be traced back to an even older language called Proto-Indo-European, where the root word might have been *peysk-. This ancient root is also linked to the Latin word "piscis," which is why you see words like "piscine" (related to fish) in English, and the zodiac sign "Pisces."

So, in simple terms, the word "fish" has been around for a very long time, with its core meaning of a water-dwelling animal staying pretty consistent through thousands of years and across different languages. Its first known use in English, as "fisc," dates back to before the year 1150, already carrying its familiar meaning.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Fish

1. Drink like a fish: To drink a very large amount of alcohol.

2. A big fish in a small pond: An important person in a small community or organization.

3. To fish for compliments: To subtly try to get someone to praise you.

4. Neither fish nor fowl: Something that doesn't fit into a clear category.

5. To fish in troubled waters: To try to gain advantage from a difficult or chaotic situation.

6. A cold fish: A person who is unemotional and shows little warmth.

7. There are plenty of other fish in the sea: There are many other potential romantic partners (or opportunities) available.

8. To feel like a fish out of water: To feel uncomfortable or out of place in a situation.

9. To fish out (something): To pull something out of a container or place.

10. To have bigger fish to fry: To have more important things to do.

11. Odd fish: An eccentric or unusual person.

12. To land a big fish: To achieve something very significant or acquire something valuable.

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of fish from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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