kettle of fish
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A difficult, awkward, or messy situation: An informal idiom meaning a problematic state of affairs, often one that is complicated or unpleasant.
Usage
The phrase "kettle of fish" is almost always used in the construction "a fine/nice/pretty kettle of fish" to ironically describe a troublesome or confused situation. It is a fixed idiom.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "A different kettle of fish": This is a related but distinct idiom. It means "a completely different matter or situation," often used for comparison.
- I can handle accounting, but graphic design is a different kettle of fish altogether.
Variants and Related Words
- Fix (n.): a difficult situation.
- Jam (n.): a difficult situation.
- Pickle (n.): a difficult situation.
- Predicament (n.): a difficult, unpleasant, or embarrassing situation.
- Muddle (n.): a state of confusion or disorder.
Synonyms
- Mess
- Difficulty
- Quandary
- Dilemma
- Plight
Related Idioms
- A fine/pretty kettle of fish: The standard ironic form of the idiom.
- A different kettle of fish: An entirely separate matter or type of thing.
Noun
- informal terms for a difficult situation
- he got into a terrible fix
- he made a muddle of his marriage