kettle of fish
Americannoun
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an awkward, difficult, or bad situation; muddle; mess.
He's managed to get himself into a fine kettle of fish!
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a state of affairs; a matter under consideration.
The new proposal is quite a different kettle of fish from the last one.
noun
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a situation; state of affairs (often used ironically in the phrase a pretty or fine kettle of fish )
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case; matter for consideration
that's quite a different kettle of fish
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Also, . An unpleasant or messy predicament, as in They haven't spoken in years, and they're assigned to adjoining seats—that's a fine kettle of fish . This term alludes to the Scottish riverside picnic called kettle of fish , where freshly caught salmon were boiled and eaten out of hand. [Early 1700s]
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. A very different matter or issue, not necessarily a bad one. For example, They're paying for the meal? That's a different kettle of fish . [First half of 1900s]
Etymology
Origin of kettle of fish
First recorded in 1735–45
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This, she said, was a "whole different kettle of fish" which required different skills and experience.
From BBC ● Jan. 5, 2024
"And that may be a different kettle of fish."
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2023
There is definitely plenty of talent in the Romanian squad but being able to beat Germany is another kettle of fish.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 28, 2021
The arts in Germany is a whole different kettle of fish.
From New York Times ● Dec. 11, 2020
A fine kettle of fish that will be.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
