fish for a compliment
fish for compliments
To attempt to elicit praise from someone, typically by saying negative things about oneself. We know you're a smart kind, Dan. You don't need to fish for compliments by talking about the one C you got. Tara's always fishing for compliments by talking about how she couldn't get her hair the way she wanted it.
See also: compliment, fish
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
fish for a compliment
Fig. to try to get someone to pay oneself a compliment. When she showed me her new dress, I could tell that she was fishing for a compliment. Tom was certainly fishing for a compliment when he modeled his fancy haircut for his friends.
See also: compliment, fish
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
fish for compliments
encourage somebody indirectly to say nice things about you: Stop asking me if you look OK. You’re just fishing for compliments.See also: compliment, fish
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- fish for compliments
- raise (some/a few) eyebrows
- raise some eyebrows
- cause (some) eyebrows to raise
- cause eyebrows to raise and cause some raised eyebrows
- cause raised eyebrows
- cause some raised eyebrows
- eyebrow
- for (one's) (own) sake
- for sake