a fishing expedition

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a fishing expedition (mainly American)

an attempt to discover the facts about something by collecting a lot of information, often secretly The investigators' request for the company's accounts is simply a fishing expedition - they have no real evidence of wrongdoing.

See also: expedition, fishing

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Where It All Started There is only one American company that is known to deliver and produce the Penn International reels When you hear Penn International, you immediately think and associate that name to a fishing expedition Where It All Started There is only one American company that is known to deliver and produce the Penn International reels. Penn International - Penn Reels for the Best Fishing Expedition by Brenda Ogilvie / Writing and Speaking community A FISHING expedition proved quite a catch with amateur anglers in Coulby Newham. Kids net new hobby by Evening Gazette (Middlesbrough, England) Clearly they are on a fishing expedition, clutching at straws and know fully well that there is no basis, even suspicion, at law to charge Roy Bennett," the party said. MDC official in court as new Zimbabwe gov't begins work by AFP / AFP Global Edition			a fashion victim a fast talker a fast track a fat cat a fat lot of good a fate worse than death a faux pas a favourite son a feather in cap a feeding frenzy a feel for a femme fatale a fender bender a few fries short of a Happy Meal a fifth wheel a fifty-fifty chance a fig leaf a fighting chance a figment of imagination a figure of fun a fine kettle of fish a fine line a finger in every pie a firm hand on the tiller a fish out of water a fishing expedition a flash in the pan a flight of fancy a flip-flop a fly in the ointment a fly on the wall A fool and his money are soon parted a fool's errand A for effort a force to be reckoned with a foregone conclusion a four-letter word a frame of mind a Frankenstein's monster a free agent a free ride a free spirit a free-for-all a French letter A friend in need a frog in throat a fuddy-duddy a full plate a full-court press a funny farm a game plan			a few Zs a few Zs A fib A fib A fib A fiber A fibers A fibers A fibers A fibers a fifth wheel a fifty-fifty chance a fig leaf A Fight for America A fighting chance A fighting chance a figment of imagination a figment of the imagination a figure of fun A Fine Good Organization a fine kettle of fish a fine kettle of fish a fine kettle of fish a fine line a fine state of affairs a finger in every pie A Fire Inside a firm hand on the tiller A First Attack Assessment Model A Fish Out of Water a fishing expedition A Fistful of Boomstick A Fistful of Dollars a flash in the pan A flat a flea in (one's) ear a flea in (one's) ear a flea in (one's) ear a flea in ear a flea in ear a flea in ear A flea in the ear a flight of fancy a flight of fantasy a flight of imagination a flip-flop A Flock of Seagulls a fly in the ointment a fly on the wall A Flying Kiwi Experience A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted A Fool and His Money Are Soon Parted A Fool with a Tool Is Still a Fool a fool's errand A for Apple A for effort A for effort A Force of One A Force to Be Reckoned With A Force to Be Reckoned With a force to reckon with

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