Definition of Fishing Expedition

When a person ask questions without a specific goal or hypothesis in mind. It is often used to gather general information or to uncover potential problems.

Example: The manager accused the VP of conducting a fishing expedition, rather than providing any concrete evidence to support his claims.

Variations: fishing expedition


Usage of "Fishing Expedition" by Country

Business English is used in many different countries around the world. Some of the words and phrases listed on this site will be understood everywhere Business English is used, but some words and phrases are only used in specific countries. The map below shows where "Fishing Expedition" is most commonly used.

Word Usage Map

Learn More About "Fishing Expedition"

"Fishing Expedition" is in the top 30% most popular words looked up on this site.

"Fishing Expedition" is used in the workplace during meetings or emails.

The definition for "Fishing Expedition" was last updated in 2023.

Trending Words

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Newest Words

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Business English Quiz

Question: What does "Calendar Invite" mean?

   (A) When a person wants to meet with you next week.
   (B) An email sent to schedule a meeting with the option to either accept or decline the meeting at the scheduled time.
   (C) When a person has available time on their calendar to meet with you.
   (D) When a person does not have any time to meet with you.

Answer: Find out the right answer here.

About This Site

Jargonism is a Business English dictionary. You can learn about words and phrases that are commonly used in the workplace like Circle Back, Thought Leader, and Offsite. We also have a Word of the Day, which is a daily Business English vocabulary word that is commonly used in the workplace.

On this site, we also have templates on how to communicate effectively at work, such as requesting PTO, declining a promotion, and taking a sick day.

Word of the Day

Date: 12/05/2024

Word: Close It Out

Definition: To mark something as completed.

Example: This task has been fixed, so let's close it out within the task tracker.

Cite This Page

"Fishing Expedition." Jargonism.com Dictionary, https://jargonism.com/words/1804. Accessed 12/05/2024.