“Gone fishing” is an idiom used to describe someone who is mentally absent or taking a break from everyday life. It originated from signs placed on shop windows when the owner went fishing. It can also refer to someone who has physically removed themselves from a situation.
“Gone fishing” is an English idiom that is used in reference to someone who is completely unaware of everything that is happening in their immediate area. The person described in this way has moved away from reality and may daydream about simply ignoring the people and things nearby. In other cases, the term can be used to describe someone who has taken the opportunity to get away from the rigors of everyday life. This expression first found footing in America in the 20th century and is taken from the signs commonly placed on local shop windows indicating that shopkeepers were not around to do business.
There are times in the English language when certain words or phrases are used that have a different meaning than their literal definitions. This is because they have been used in certain situations or circumstances for so long that their meanings evolve. Such phrases are called idioms, and these idioms are useful for enlivening everyday speech.
In its most literal sense, this phrase refers to someone who has consciously removed themselves from a situation. When the stresses of modern life get a little too much, an idyllic retreat can be just the thing to restore a sense of calm. As a result, some people may take some time away from their routine to find some relaxation, and this expression represents those getaways. For example, “I’ve been working hard all week and I need a break, so if someone asks me, I’ll go fishing.”
There are some occasions when the person described in this way has mentally walked out of a situation without even knowing it. Perhaps the pressures of life have caused this involuntary withdrawal, or perhaps the person in question has simply shut down for a moment. For example, he considers the sentence: “He just looks into the distance when you talk to him; it’s as if he went fishing ”.
Back when local shops could be run by one person, it was common for the owner and proprietor of such a business to take a day off to go to the local fishing hole. In those cases, the owner would put a sign on the door to say that he was gone, indicating that the shop was closed. This is the probable origin of the phrase, which gained traction in America thanks to some popular songs that featured the phrase.
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