Everybody else at the party ended up in the swimming pool. But I was a fish out of water because I can't swim.
参加聚会的每个人最后都到游泳池去游泳了，我觉得特别别扭，因为我不会游泳。

When I ask my friend if she likes my new dress, I was fishing for a compliment.
我问她是否喜欢我的新衣服时，其实是想让她夸我几句。

Charlie, you've had two weeks to decide whether you want in on this deal. Now it's time to fish or cut bait. I need your answer by six o'clock tonight—otherwise we'll leave you out of it!
查理，对于要不要参与这笔生意你斟酌了有两星期了。现在你必须做出抉择了。我必须在今晚六点前得到你的答复，否则我们就把你排除在外。

The senator says the investigation is a fishing expedition by his enemies to see if they can find anything he has ever done that might hurt his political career.
那位参议员声称这次调查是他政敌的蓄意盘查，目的是搜罗挖掘他是否有不端行为，以损毁他的政治生涯。

I can't believe it! His only son was hurt in an accident and he told his wife he couldn't go to the hospital until later because he had other fish to fry—a million-dollar deal he was closing.
我真是不能理解！他的独子遭到意外受了伤，而他却对太太说，他要晚些时候才能去医院，因为他另有要事得办：有一笔百万美元的大生意在等著他拍板呢。

This story is a red herring to divert public attention from this issue.
这故事不过是用来转移公众的注意力的。

herring n. 鲱（又称青鱼）

Holy mackerel! What's this? A new car?
好家伙！这是什么？你买了辆新车？

mackerel n. 鲭（产于北大西洋）；马鲛鱼