What does kettle of fish mean?
Idiom Meaning:
a difficult problem or situation
Examples of this Idiom in Movies & TV Shows:
A Pest in the House (1947)
Time of Scene:
Daffy Duck: So, a fine kettle of fish! Here I work myself to the skin and bones trying to get this guy to sleep, and what do you do? Blow whistles! Just when I got things so quiet you could hear a pin drop, you bust in here and bust out with a whistle, and you snafu the whole works! How in the name of all that’s reasonable do you expect a guy to get his slumber when a goof like you goes around making noises like a one-man Fourth of July celebration? He needs peace and quiet! It’s positively outrageous!
Inspector Morse: “The Dead Jericho” (1987)
Time of Scene:
Chief Inspector Morse: I’d expect you’ve heard your boss is getting promoted.
Detective Sergeant Lewis: Yes sir.
Chief Inspector Morse: Good, eh?
Detective Sergeant Lewis: Oh, yes sir, marvellous.
Chief Inspector Morse: I’m a quite different kettle of fish Lewis.
Family Matters: “Stop in the Name of Love” (1992)
Time of Scene:
Laura: Well, Steve, I’ve been trying to convince Waldo that girls find him attractive. I couldn’t turn right around and refuse to go out with him.
Steve Urkel: Oh, why not? You refuse to go out with me for the last decade!
Laura: Well, that’s because you have self-confidence. I can turn you down without destroying your ego.
Steve Urkel: Well, isn’t that just a fine kettle of fish? I’m getting penalized because I’m emotionally stable!
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