neither fish nor fowl

Idioms  

1. Also, neither fish nor flesh; neither fish, flesh, nor fowl. Not one or the other, not something fitting any category under discussion. For example, They felt he was neither fish nor fowl—not qualified to lead the department, yet not appropriate to work as a staff member either. This expression appeared in slightly different form in John Heywood's 1546 proverb collection (“Neither fish, nor flesh, nor good red herring”) and is thought to allude to food for monks (fish, because they abstained from meat), for the people (flesh, or meat), and for the poor (red herring, a very cheap fish).

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Example Sentences

What I saw above Idaho was neither fish nor fowl, and I could not quite convince myself it was real.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2024

“The Sheep, the Rooster, and the Duck” isn’t quite a graphic novel, nor is it a straight-up illustrated book; it’s neither fish nor fowl.

From New York Times • Mar. 17, 2022

In sum, T-3 was neither fish nor fowl.

From Slate • Jul. 15, 2020

Vivid but not tactile, they’re at first glance neither fish nor fowl, let alone feline.

From The Guardian • Jul. 19, 2019

But Man lacks assurance and foothold, founded home and domain: his sole heritage, though he is neither fish nor fowl, being sea and air.

From The Lord of the Sea by Shiel, M. P. (Matthew Phipps)