Matthew Modine
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A difficult or awkward situation; a mess. Primarily heard in US. Well, that's a fine kettle of fish. I thought I paid the credit card bill, but it turns out that I missed the due date by a week. See also: fine, fish, kettle, of. kettle of fish. Any given situation or issue.
‘A different kettle of fish’ is an alternative to what has been previously considered; a different thing altogether. For example, we might offer to have a friend stay for a few days but remark that a stay of a few months would be a different kettle of fish.
Kettle of fish. The expression dates from the 18th century and has developed two meanings. Firstly, the original one, a fine kettle of fish means that an awkward or disagreeable state of affairs has arisen. Secondly, a different kettle of fish means a new or different state of affairs has arisen.
noun. an awkward, difficult, or bad situation; muddle; mess: He's managed to get himself into a fine kettle of fish! a state of affairs; a matter under consideration: The new proposal is quite a different kettle of fish from the last one.
Kettle of fish definition, an awkward, difficult, or bad situation; muddle; mess: He's managed to get himself into a fine kettle of fish! See more. Dictionary.com
Add to word list. to be completely different from something or someone else that has been talked about: Having knowledge is one thing but being able to communicate it to others is another kettle of fish. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Being and appearing different.
A PRETTY/FINE KETTLE OF FISH definition: 1. a very difficult and annoying situation 2. a very difficult and annoying situation. Learn more.
