Li: Hello and welcome to The English
We Speak, I'm Li and with me today is
Rob: Shhh Li, be quiet, I think I've nearly caught one.
Li: Caught what?
Rob: A fish! That's why we're fishing - to catch a fish.
Li: Ah yes.
Rob: I did say I would teach you the
art of fishing - how to cast off and how to
reel in a massive fish.
Li: (Quietly) Is Rob really good at fishing?
Rob: Yes, I am,
I've been doing it for years… I once caught a massive shark…
it was THIS big… but I'm not that good
at it really. I just do it for fun, I'm
not competitive or anything like that!
Li: Of course you're not! The only thing Rob is fishing for today is
compliments. Rob, are you hoping to catch some compliments today?
Rob: Compliments - how big are they exactly?
Li: No. Compliments!
When people say you are 'fishing for compliments' it
means you try to make people say good things about you. You pretend to
be modest about something and hope they disagree and give you praise.
So Rob, you want me to say something good about your fishing?
Rob: No… not really… well, alright then, just one compliment please?
Li: Hmmm, I'll have a think while we
listen to some examples of this phrase:
Examples
Jean was fishing for compliments about her
outfit when she pretended she only took five
minutes to get ready!
John kept saying he couldn't run very fast
but he still won the race; I think he was just
fishing for compliments.
Fred: Oh I can only speak a few
words of French. I'm no good at languages.
Jane: Oh stop fishing for compliments
Fred - we know you can speak five languages!
Li: So fishing for compliments is about trying to get someone to say
something good about you. Well Rob, I am impressed with your fishing
skills - look, you've actually caught something!
Rob: Oh yes - quick let's pull it in.
Ooh, come on, oh it's a big one this one,
come on!
Li: Oh Rob, it's just an old shoe.
Perhaps you were right, you're not very good
at fishing - but that's OK,
I'm not much good either, all I've managed to
catch today is this 50kg salmon - what do you think?
Rob: Wow Li - for a first time,
that is amazing. I think that deserves a
compliment…
Li: Go on then Rob…
Rob: Well,
I was going to say the eyes on that fish look just like yours!
Li: Hmm, that wasn't the compliment I was fishing for. In you go…
SPLASH
Li: …fish for your own compliments. Bye.
Rob: Bye! Can you get me out please?!

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