kettle of fish
An awkward situation.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“That is a different kettle of fish entirely.”
“I can fix a leaky sink, but repairing the entire plumbing system is a different kettle of fish.”
“Managing a small team is straightforward, but leading a global organization through a crisis is quite another kettle of fish.”
The term derives from kettle, a variant of kiddle, referring to a weir or fence of stakes placed in a stream for the purpose of catching fish. This method of trapping fish provided the foundational noun for the idiom.
- 01
big fish
An important person.
- 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.
- 03
bigger fish to fry
A much more pressing issue to attend to.
- 04
cold fish
A heartless individual; a person lacking empathy and emotion.
- 05
fish in troubled waters
To try to take advantage of a confused or troubled situation.
- 06
fish or cut bait
To make a decision, especially after a period of delay; to either take action now or forgo the opportunity.
- 07
fish out
To search for by rummaging, and then extract (an item from e.g. a container); to obtain.
- 08
fish out of water
A person in unfamiliar and often uncomfortable surroundings.
Last updated August 10, 2026