Phrase guide

kettle of fish

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An awkward situation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • fine kettle of fish pretty kettle of fish

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cauldron, mess, can of worms, predicament, ass in a sling, bind, bucket of syrup, calvary, cross, cross to bear, difficulty, dilemma, dire straits, doghouse, fix, hole, jam, kettle, kettle of fish, ordeal, pickle, pinch, plight, quandary, quagmire, situation, spot, spot of bother, sticky situation, sticky wicket, tight spot, trouble

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

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

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

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

Meaning relationships

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

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

informal terms for a difficult situation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he got into a terrible fix
  • he made a muddle of his marriage

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: fix, hole, jam, mess, muddle, pickle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: difficulty

Narrower terms: dog's breakfast, dog's dinner

History

Etymology

From kettle, a variant of kiddle, a weir or fence of stakes in a stream used to catch fish.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: toinen asia — different or alternative situation
  • Finnish: eri asia — different or alternative situation
  • Finnish: liemi — different or alternative situation
  • French: autre paire de manches — different or alternative situation
  • Polish: inna para kaloszy — different or alternative situation
  • Romanian: altă mâncare de pește — different or alternative situation
  • Spanish: harina de otro costal — different or alternative situation