kettle of fish

American  

noun

1. an awkward, difficult, or bad situation; muddle; mess.

   He's managed to get himself into a fine kettle of fish!

2. a state of affairs; a matter under consideration.

   The new proposal is quite a different kettle of fish from the last one.

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kettle of fish British  

noun

1. a situation; state of affairs (often used ironically in the phrase a pretty or fine kettle of fish )

2. case; matter for consideration

   that's quite a different kettle of fish

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kettle of fish Idioms  

1. 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]

2. . 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]

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Etymology

Origin of kettle of fish

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

“Going after cartels is one thing, but handing over politicians is another kettle of fish,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Smashing Machine is a different kettle of fish, focusing on the world of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and how prominent a figure Kerr was in the early years of the sport in the 1990s.

From BBC

"The press are a different kettle of fish."

From BBC

This, she said, was a "whole different kettle of fish" which required different skills and experience.

From BBC

"But the Crooked House is a different kettle of fish," he said.

From BBC