To search for information or evidence without a clear target or direction.
Imagine you're fishing without knowing what type of fish you're looking for, where they might be, or what bait to use. You're just casting your line out hoping to catch something. This is similar to how the idiom is used.
Examples:
* "The lawyer went on a fishing expedition, hoping to find evidence that would help his client."
* "The journalist went on a fishing expedition, trying to find any information about the scandal."
Essentially, "going on a fishing expedition" means to explore broadly and aimlessly, hoping to uncover something useful or interesting.