better fish to fry

better fish to fry

More important matters to deal with. I can't worry about that now, I've got better fish to fry! I want Chris to help me with this project, but he claims he has better fish to fry right now.
See also: better, fish, fry
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

better fish to fry

More important things to do. This way of saying that you don't want to waste your time with something (or someone) goes back to 17th-century England. Its French equivalent is “other dogs to whip.” Variations are “other fish to fry” and “better fish to fry.”
See also: better, fish, fry
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
See also:
  • fry
  • other fish to fry
  • bigger fish to fry
  • fish to fry
  • fish to fry, to have better/bigger/other
  • have other/bigger fish to fry
  • have bigger fish to fry
  • have more important fish to fry
  • have other fish to fry
  • go fry an egg
References in periodicals archive
These youngsters have better fish to fry than to go out rioting and looting.
Brum's brass band delight; YourSay
There's better fish to fry out there in other sectors besides sports where there's better predictability.
Spending in MLB is All Part of the Cycle
They've got bigger and better fish to fry like Terry's obsession with Janine, Phil driving Lisa to alchoholism and Peggy's battle with depression and pills.
Down the tube : At last Roy's made a stand -and this time he's got to stay firm