kettle of fish
Fine troublesome predicament
A kettle of fish is an awkward or messy situation, usually preceded by "fine," "pretty," or "nice" in ironic understatement: Well, this is a fine kettle of fish you've gotten us into.
The phrase suggests a tangled, unpleasant predicament.
A "different kettle of fish" means an entirely separate matter: Driving in the city is one thing, but the highway is a different kettle of fish.
- pickleVinegar-preserved vegetable
- can of wormsSource of unforeseen complications
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
- tight spotDifficult position, few options
fine mess · mess · problem · difficulty · muddle · sticky situation · situation · tough spot · horse of a different color · turn of phrase · storm in a teacup · stew · quagmire · case · complication · red herring · quandary · idiom
- fishing idiomshook line and sinker, the one that got away, cast a wide net, take the bait, reel in
- predicamentspredicament, dilemma, bind, pickle, pinch
kettle of fishsmooth sailing
Untroubled progress forward
piece of cake · walk in the park · cakewalk · plain sailing · child's play
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