fishing expedition - Definition & Meaning

an attempt made to find out the facts about something via collecting a lot of information, often secretlyan attempt made to find out the facts about something via collecting a lot of information, often secretly

The idiom "fishing expedition" is derived from the literal act of fishing, where individuals cast their lines into the water with the hope of catching fish. In this context, a "fishing expedition" refers to an exploratory or speculative venture in which someone is searching for something without a clear plan or specific target. The term has been used figuratively since at least the mid-20th century. This expression is often used to describe an investigation, inquiry, or search that lacks a clear purpose or reasonable cause. It implies that the effort is akin to casting a wide net or conducting a search without knowing precisely what one is looking for, and it may be seen as speculative or exploratory. In legal contexts, it can refer to a request for information or documents that appears overly broad or made with the intent to harass rather than to obtain specific relevant information.The idiom "fishing expedition" is derived from the literal act of fishing, where individuals cast their lines into the water with the hope of catching fish. In this context, a "fishing expedition" refers to an exploratory or speculative venture in which someone is searching for something without a clear plan or specific target. The term has been used figuratively since at least the mid-20th century. This expression is often used to describe an investigation, inquiry, or search that lacks a clear purpose or reasonable cause. It implies that the effort is akin to casting a wide net or conducting a search without knowing precisely what one is looking for, and it may be seen as speculative or exploratory. In legal contexts, it can refer to a request for information or documents that appears overly broad or made with the intent to harass rather than to obtain specific relevant information.

例句

The prosecutor accused the defense attorney of going on a fishing expedition by requesting extensive records unrelated to the case.
检察官指责辩护律师通过要求与案件无关的大量记录来进行钓鱼探险。
The auditor's request for all financial records from the past decade seemed like a fishing expedition rather than a focused review.
审计师要求过去十年的所有财务记录，看起来更像是钓鱼探险，而不是重点审查。
It's important to have a legitimate reason for conducting an investigation and not simply embark on a fishing expedition.
进行调查时有一个正当的理由很重要，而不是简单地开始钓鱼探险。