fish out of

fish (someone or something) out of (something)

To find and retrieve someone or something. The lifeguard didn't think Maggie could swim, so he jumped in to fish her out of the pool. It took me a minute to fish my keys out of my bag.
See also: fish, of, out
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

fish someone or something out of something

 and fish someone or something Out
to pull someone or something out of something or some place. She is down at the river-bank, fishing driftwood out of the water. She fished out a lot of wood.
See also: fish, of, out
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • fish (someone or something) out of (something)
  • yank (someone or something) out of (something)
  • yank out of
  • get (something) for (someone or something)
  • let (someone or something) past
  • let past
  • retrieve
  • retrieve from
  • retrieve from (someone, something, or some place)
  • retrieve from some place
References in periodicals archive
This fish out of water is meant to be cute and endearing in his naivete: His survival needs are put to the test among a Manhattan sect that tends to shock easily when its tropical fish are roasted or potted palms are used for the relief of bodily functions.
Jungle 2 Jungle