kettle of fish

kettle of fish
{v. phr.}, {informal} Something to be considered; how things are; a happening; business. * /I thought he needed money, but it was another kettle of fish - his car had disappeared./ - Usually used with "pretty", "fine", "nice", but meaning bad trouble. * /He had two flat tires and no spare on a country road at night, which was certainly a pretty kettle of fish./ * /This is a fine kettle of fish! I forgot my book./ Compare: CUP OP TEA(2).

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • kettle of fish — A pretty or fine kettle of fish is a difficult problem or situation …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • kettle of fish — n. 1. a difficult or embarrassing situation 2. a matter to be dealt with …   English World dictionary

  • kettle of fish — noun informal terms for a difficult situation he got into a terrible fix he made a muddle of his marriage • Syn: ↑fix, ↑hole, ↑jam, ↑mess, ↑muddle, ↑pickle • …   Useful english dictionary

  • Kettle of Fish — Infobox Album | Name = Kettle of Fish Type = Compilation album Artist = Fish Recorded = Released = 9 November 1998 Genre = Progressive rock Length = 70:51 Label = Roadrunner Records Producer = Jon Kelly, Chris Kimsey, James Cassidy, Steven Wilson …   Wikipedia

  • kettle of fish — {v. phr.}, {informal} Something to be considered; how things are; a happening; business. * /I thought he needed money, but it was another kettle of fish his car had disappeared./ Usually used with pretty , fine , nice , but meaning bad trouble. * …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • kettle of fish — noun a) An awkward situation; a predicament. Thats a fine kettle of fish, he exclaimed, then turned to his dinner companion. Fine kettle of fish. Im so hungry even that sounds good, and from the looks of this menu thats probably what Ill get. b)… …   Wiktionary

  • kettle\ of\ fish — v. phr. informal Something to be considered; how things are; a happening; business. I thought he needed money, but it was another kettle of fish his car had disappeared. Usually used with pretty , fine , nice , but meaning bad trouble. He had two …   Словарь американских идиом

  • kettle of fish — 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. [1735… …   Universalium

  • kettle of fish — ket′tle of fish′ n. 1) an awkward, difficult, or bad situation; muddle; mess 2) a state of affairs; matter under consideration: This new proposal is a different kettle of fish altogether[/ex] • Etymology: 1735–45 …   From formal English to slang

  • kettle of fish —    A pretty or fine kettle of fish is a difficult problem or situation.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

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