fish out of

fish (someone or something) out of (something)

To find and retrieve someone or something. The lifeguard didn't think Maggie could swim, so he jumped in to fish her out of the pool. It took me a minute to fish my keys out of my bag.See also: fish, of, out

fish someone or something out of something

 and fish someone or something Outto pull someone or something out of something or some place. She is down at the river-bank, fishing driftwood out of the water. She fished out a lot of wood.See also: fish, of, out