sprats

Small silvery fish

Sprats are small, oily fish related to herrings, found in European coastal waters and often sold smoked, canned, or pickled.

The phrase a sprat to catch a mackerel describes offering something small to gain something larger—a minor investment or sacrifice made in hopes of a bigger return.

fish

sardine

Small herring-family fish

anchovySmall, salty forage fish
herringSmall silvery Atlantic fish
whitebaitYoung fish eaten whole

pilchard · brisling · smelt · silverfish · kipper · bloater · mackerel · forage fish · baitfish · oily fish

marine

shoal

Shallow water hazard

schoolPlace of instruction
Baltic SeaNorthern European inland sea
North SeaAtlantic extension near Britain

coastal · brackish · estuary · spawning · migration · pelagic · plankton · krill · food chain · predator

size

small

Limited in size

tinyExtremely small in size
littleSmall in degree
diminutiveVery small, or nickname form

miniature · bite-sized · slender · silvery · delicate · lightweight

culinary

smoked

Exposed to wood fumes

cannedSealed for preservation
pickledPreserved in acidic solution
friedCooked in hot fat

grilled · kippered · salted · preserved · tinned · Baltic · Nordic · British · tapas · antipasto

sprats

sardine

shoal

small

smoked

sprats

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

Family