'fishing expedition' definitions:
Definition of 'fishing expedition'
(from WordNet)
noun
An investigation undertaken in the hope (but not the stated purpose) of discovering information
Definition of 'fishing expedition'
From: GCIDE
- fishing expedition \fishing expedition\ n. An investigation searching for evidence of wrongdoing, with no credible evidence of such wrongdoing available at the outset of the investigation, and often without specifying in advance the wrongdoing to be proven. [metaphorical] [PJC]