kettle of fish

plural kettles of fish · alternative kiddle of fish · alternative kittle of fish · alternative keddle of fish

1. idiomaticAn awkward situation.

   fine kettle of fish pretty kettle of fish

   1 more example

   "That's a fine kettle of fish," he exclaimed, then turned to his dinner companion. "Fine kettle of fish. I'm so hungry even that sounds good, and from the looks of this menu that's probably what I'll get."

   2004, Ellen Raskin, chapter 13, in The Westing Game

   Synonyms: cauldron, mess, can of worms, predicament, ass in a sling, bind, bucket of syrup, calvary

2. idiomaticA situation recognized as different from or as an alternative to some other situation.

   another kettle of fish new kettle of fish different kettle of fish

   1 more example

   Network Rail would have faced a bigger issue. Maintaining the track for one freight train a day is one thing - doing so for 200 passenger trains a day was a very different kettle of fish.

   2023 November 29, Richard Foster, “Tyne & Wear Metro goes with the flow”, in RAIL, number 997, page 34

   Synonyms: ball game, horse of a different color, pair of shoes, matter