ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fish to fry

idiom
Meaning

A matter to attend to.


Examples
SIMPLE

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

CONTEXTUAL

She declined the invitation to the meeting, explaining that she had bigger fish to fry at the office.

COMPLEX

While the committee debated minor procedural changes, the director insisted they focus on the larger issues, noting that the company had much bigger fish to fry.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    big fish

    An important person.

  2. 02

    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.

  3. 03

    bigger fish to fry

    A much more pressing issue to attend to.

  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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