have bigger fish to fry
have bigger fish to fry
To have more important or more interesting things to do or attend to. It's really not worth my time. I've got bigger fish to fry! I want Chris to help me with this project, but he claims he has bigger fish to fry right now.
See also: big, fish, fry, have
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
have bigger fish to fry
and have other fish to fry; have more important fish to fryFig. to have other things to do; to have more important things to do. I can't take time for your problem. I have other fish to fry. I won't waste time on your question. I have bigger fish to fry.
See also: big, fish, fry, have
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
have other/bigger fish to ˈfry
(informal) have more important, interesting or useful things to do: He’s not interested in reviewing small provincial exhibitions like this one; he’s got much bigger fish to fry. So you aren’t coming out with us tonight? I suppose you’ve got other fish to fry.See also: big, fish, fry, have, other
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
fish to fry, to have better/bigger/other
To have other, more important matters to attend to. Referring to fish cookery, this term dates from the seventeenth century. “I fear he has other fish to fry,” wrote John Evelyn in his Memoirs (1660). Actually, this term also appeared in an early translation of Rabelais’s Pantagruel (1552) by Motteux, but it did not seem to catch on until later.
See also: better, big, fish, have, other
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- fish to fry, to have better/bigger/other
- have other/bigger fish to fry
- have more important fish to fry
- bigger fish to fry
- have other fish to fry
- other fish to fry
- fry
- better fish to fry
- fish to fry
- go fry an egg