招徕顾客；等生意
to try to get customers for your business in a public place, for example, as a taxi driver, by driving around or waiting in a regular place
There are never any taxis plying for trade/hire in our area. 我们这一地区从来都没有出租车在这里候客。
I noticed a couple of prostitutes plying for business on the corner. 我看到拐角处有几个妓女在拉客。
The music was drowned out by the shouts of traders plying for business.
The first ice cream shop was so successful that there were soon many other such establishments plying for trade.
The vehicle was not licensed to ply for hire.
See also: ply verb (WORK)