kettle of fish

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.

kettle of fish

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of kettle of fish¹

First recorded in 1735–45