ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bigger fish to fry

idiom
Meaning

A much more pressing issue to attend to.


Origin

disputed origin

An augmentative of other fish to fry.

Examples
SIMPLE

I cannot help you now because I have bigger fish to fry.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager ignored the minor office complaint because he had bigger fish to fry regarding the company budget.

COMPLEX

While the committee debated the minor procedural changes, the director insisted they focus on the budget crisis, as there were clearly bigger fish to fry.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    be the bigger man

    To walk away from a conflict to prevent it from escalating.

  2. 02

    big fish

    An important person.

  3. 03

    big fish in a small pond

    One who has achieved a high rank or is highly esteemed, but only in a small, relatively unimportant, or little known location or organization.

  4. 04

    cold fish

    A heartless individual; a person lacking empathy and emotion.

  5. 05

    fish in troubled waters

    To try to take advantage of a confused or troubled situation.

  6. 06

    fish or cut bait

    To make a decision, especially after a period of delay; to either take action now or forgo the opportunity.

  7. 07

    fish out

    To search for by rummaging, and then extract (an item from e.g. a container); to obtain.

  8. 08

    fish out of water

    A person in unfamiliar and often uncomfortable surroundings.

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