fish out of water, a

1. A person away from his or her usual environment or activities. For example, Using a computer for the first time, Carl felt like a fish out of water, or On a hiking trail, Nell was a fish out of water. This expression alludes to the fact that fish cannot survive for long on dry land. [Late 1300s]

Example Sentences

Fish out of Water, a season 3 episode devoid of dialogue, follows BoJack through an underwater world, perfectly capturing the frustrations of being unable to navigate everyday spaces or communicate adequately with those around you.

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Once the scheme is set up, keeping it up falls to Robert, the fish out of water, a rube in a den of minxes.

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Orange is the New Black is fascinating because of the intrigue of a fish out of water, a woman coping with an alien environment – plus maybe the lesbian sex.

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Some within the company saw him as a fish out of water - a brash banker in the sedate world of insurance.

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Lloyd's debut on ECM began with Fish Out of Water, a quiet Coltrane lament, but the deep and dreamy flute piece Haghia Sophia shows his enduring power to move on that intrument.

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