fish

big fish: see big cheese atbig.

a big fish in a small (or little) pond a person seen as important and influential only within the limited scope of a small organization or group.

cry stinking fish: seecry.

a different kettle of fish: seekettle.

drink like a fish: seedrink.

feed the fishes: seefeed.

fish in troubled waters make a profit out of trouble or upheaval.

fish or cut bait stop vacillating and decide to act on or disengage from something. North American informal

a fish out of water a person who is in a completely unsuitable environment or situation.

1991Margaret WeissKing's Test He realized that he was a fish out of water-a pilot in the midst of marines.

have other (or bigger) fish to fry have other or more important matters to attend to.

1985Gregory BenfordArtifact Kontos can throw a fit back there, chew the rug, anything-it won't matter. His government has bigger fish to fry.

like shooting fish in a barrel done very easily.

1992Laurie ColwinHome Cooking I fear that's the urgency of greed. Picking cultivated berries is like shooting fish in a barrel.

neither fish nor fowl (nor good red herring) of indefinite character and difficult to identify or classify.

☞ This expression arose with reference to dietary laws formerly laid down by the Church during periods of fasting or abstinence.

a pretty kettle of fish: seekettle.

a queer fish: seequeer.

soup and fish: seesoup.

there are plenty more fish in the sea used to console someone whose romantic relationship has ended by pointing out that there are many other people with whom they may have a successful relationship in the future.

☞ This expression alludes to the proverb there are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.