kettle of fish

noun phrase

1
: a bad state of affairs : mess
2
: something to be considered or dealt with : matter
a different kettle of fish

Examples of kettle of fish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Speaking of painstaking efforts, the doorways were another kettle of fish. Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar, Architectural Digest, 27 Sep. 2024 The Israel Defense Forces are a different, and far more dangerous, kettle of fish. Bilal Y. Saab, Foreign Affairs, 21 Jan. 2015 The Urus, even in top-tier Performante trim, doesn’t better the Cayenne Turbo S in terms of driving enjoyment (or looks, but that’s a whole other kettle of fish). Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 17 June 2024 But retaining the Vince Lombardi Trophy is a different kettle of fish. Ben Morse, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024 What conservatives choose to say about this is a different kettle of fish. Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 21 June 2023 No, that was a completely different kettle of fish. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kettle of fish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1742, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kettle of fish was in 1742

Dictionary Entries Near kettle of fish

Cite this Entry

“Kettle of fish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kettle%20of%20fish. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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