When you are mentioning something you did, something you are wearing, etc. to make someone else give you a compliment for it.
The following are examples of "To Fish for a Compliment":
Her: Oh, I'm so tired of baking. These cinnamon rolls took me all day to make.
Him: And they sure do taste wonderful!
Her: I guess I fished for that compliment.
One girl to her friend: I was so lucky to get this sweater on sale last Thursday.
The friend: It looks great on you!
Husband: Man, I'm tired of changing tires on all our cars.
Wife: Thank you so much for doing it. I really appreciate it.
Her: Oh, I'm so tired of baking. These cinnamon rolls took me all day to make.
Him: And they sure do taste wonderful!
Her: I guess I fished for that compliment.
One girl to her friend: I was so lucky to get this sweater on sale last Thursday.
The friend: It looks great on you!
Husband: Man, I'm tired of changing tires on all our cars.
Wife: Thank you so much for doing it. I really appreciate it.
by corpisal.delictimus December 18, 2009
Get the To Fish for a Complimentmug. When someone essentially insults themself in order to get sympathy from other people. A flirting tactic used by many girls.
Guy: Hi, what's wrong?
Girl: *sigh* I look awful today!
Guy: No you don't! You look absolutely wonderful!
Girl: No, I don't. Stop being nice.
Guy: I'm serious, you do! You're the most beautiful girl in the world, you couldn't look better!
Girl: I guess... but I'm stupid.
Guy: No you're not! You're 50 million times smarter than me!
... and this compliment fishing goes on. Don't fall for it, guys. It usually leads you to a girl who will dump you unless you compliment their every move and become their slave.
Girl: *sigh* I look awful today!
Guy: No you don't! You look absolutely wonderful!
Girl: No, I don't. Stop being nice.
Guy: I'm serious, you do! You're the most beautiful girl in the world, you couldn't look better!
Girl: I guess... but I'm stupid.
Guy: No you're not! You're 50 million times smarter than me!
... and this compliment fishing goes on. Don't fall for it, guys. It usually leads you to a girl who will dump you unless you compliment their every move and become their slave.
by MrCuddles September 22, 2006
Get the Compliment fishingmug. Pay a compliment: Flatter or praise to someone.
He paid her a compliment when he told her she looked like a model
He paid her a compliment when he told her she looked like a model
by Patoedu14 June 9, 2016
Get the pay a complimentmug. Bill: Hey Phil you are really beautiful.
Phil: No, I'm not. Even my grandma calls me ugly.
Bill: Stop being so hard on yourself.
Phil: Well then stop giving me empty compliments.
Phil: No, I'm not. Even my grandma calls me ugly.
Bill: Stop being so hard on yourself.
Phil: Well then stop giving me empty compliments.
by John Floppy Clock December 15, 2013
Get the Empty complimentmug. by Ben Johnson March 17, 2005
Get the fishing for complimentsmug. A comment made about an African-American that is somehow related to their race and would be mundane/not worth mentioning were they white.
Sen. Joseph Biden (D-DE) made a blackhanded compliment about Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL), saying he is “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.”
by thegthang May 3, 2012
Get the blackhanded complimentmug. What might at first sound like a compliment but could/should really be taken as an insult when considered in its entirety.
The Republican Senator would never desecrate the holy institution of marriage by voting to allowing gays to wed; just ask his ex.
by Anon April 19, 2005
Get the backhanded complimentmug.