She’s fishing

[meliss]

Hi, is she fishing for compliments?
“Yes, I also . . . But she’s got two bad faults. I think you will not have notice them yet?” As I didn’t rise to this, she added solemnly: “You know I wish you would tell me truthfully what are my faults?” In another mood, I would have found this amusing, and even rather touching. As it was, I only thought: “She’s fishing...” (The Landauers, Christopher Isherwood)

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, that's the expression. (Fishing for compliments.)

Is that quote word for word?

 

[GoesStation]

Yes, that's the expression. (Fishing for compliments.)

Is that quote word for word?

Isherwood wrote the books that became the play and, later, the movie Cabaret. This dialog may have been for a character who wasn't a native English speaker.

I have a soft spot for this author because he lived in the Los Angeles neighborhood where I lived during my high school years. I never knew him, though.

 

[meliss]

Yes, that's the expression. (Fishing for compliments.)

Is that quote word for word?

Yes, it is. The girl is a German.

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, it is. The girl is a German.

That might explain the English. (It's a bit off.)