Kettle-of-fish
noun
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.
noun
1.
a situation; state of affairs (often used ironically in the phrase a pretty or fine kettle of fish)
2.
case; matter for consideration: that’s quite a different kettle of fish
Related Terms
fine kettle of fish
1.
Also, a fine or pretty kettle of fish. An unpleasant or messy predicament, as in They haven’t spoken in years, and they’re assigned to adjoining seats—that’s a fine kettle of fish. This term alludes to the Scottish riverside picnic called kettle of fish, where freshly caught salmon were boiled and eaten out of hand. [ Early 1700s ]
2.
a different or another kettle of fish. A very different matter or issue, not necessarily a bad one. For example, They’re paying for the meal? That’s a different kettle of fish. [ First half of 1900s ]
Read Also:
- Kettle-stitch
noun, Bookbinding. 1. (in handsewing) a knot tied in the thread that links one section to the next.
- Ketubah
[Ashkenazic Hebrew, English kuh-too-buh; Sephardic Hebrew kuh-too-bah] /Ashkenazic Hebrew, English kəˈtu bə; Sephardic Hebrew kə tuˈbɑ/ noun, plural ketuboth, ketubot, ketubos [Ashkenazic Hebrew kuh-too-bohs; Sephardic Hebrew kuh-too-bawt] /Ashkenazic Hebrew kəˈtu boʊs; Sephardic Hebrew kə tuˈbɔt/ (Show IPA). English, ketubahs. Hebrew. 1. the formal contract in a Jewish religious marriage that includes specific financial protection for […]
- Keturah
[ki-too r-uh] /kɪˈtʊər ə/ noun 1. the second wife of Abraham. Gen. 25:1. incense, the wife of Abraham, whom he married probably after Sarah’s death (Gen. 25:1-6), by whom he had six sons, whom he sent away into the east country. Her nationality is unknown. She is styled “Abraham’s concubine” (1 Chr. 1:32). Through the […]
- Ketuvim
[Sephardic Hebrew kuh-too-veem; Ashkenazic Hebrew, English kuh-too-vim] /Sephardic Hebrew kə tuˈvim; Ashkenazic Hebrew, English kəˈtu vɪm/ noun, Hebrew. 1. the Hagiographa.
- Keuka-lake
[kyoo-kuh, key-oo] /ˈkyu kə, keɪˈu/ noun 1. a lake in W central New York, one of the Finger Lakes. 18 miles (29 km) long.