kettle of fish en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
From kettle, a variant of kiddle, a weir or fence of stakes in a stream used to catch fish.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) An awkward situation.
"That's a fine kettle of fish," he exclaimed, then turned to his dinner companion. "Fine kettle of fish. I'm so hungry even that sounds good, and from the looks of this menu that's probably what I'll get."
2004, Ellen Raskin, chapter 13, in The Westing Game:fine kettle of fish pretty kettle of fish
-
(idiomatic) A situation recognized as different from or as an alternative to some other situation.
another kettle of fish new kettle of fish different kettle of fish
Network Rail would have faced a bigger issue. Maintaining the track for one freight train a day is one thing - doing so for 200 passenger trains a day was a very different kettle of fish.
2023 November 29, Richard Foster, “Tyne & Wear Metro goes with the flow”, in RAIL, number 997, page 34:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| kettles of fish | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| kittle of fish | alternative | lexicographic | |
| keddle of fish | alternative | lexicographic | |
| kiddle of fish | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
fix · cauldron · situation · doghouse · plight · pinch · difficulty · sticky situation · hole · ordeal · pickle · sticky wicket · ball game · jam · matter · mess · spot · predicament · tight spot · kettle · predicament · calvary · quagmire · ass in a sling · cross · spot of bother · dire straits · quandary · kettle of fish · trouble · horse of a different color · can of worms · cross to bear · bind · cauldron · pair of shoes · bucket of syrup · dilemma
Translations (7)
es harina de otro costal (different or alternative situation) · fi eri asia (different or alternative situation) · fi liemi (different or alternative situation) · fr autre paire de manches (different or alternative situation) · ro altă mâncare de pește (different or alternative situation) · pl inna para kaloszy (different or alternative situation) · fi toinen asia (different or alternative situation)