that's a different kettle of fish
that's a totally different matter
TRANSLATION
that's a different kettle of fish = das sind zwei Paar Stiefel, das ist was ganz Anderes --- GOOGLE INDEX a different kettle of fish: approximately 3,200,000 Google hits
STATISTICS
IN THE PRESS
"My mum does not watch me on television, my dad is an entirely DIFFERENT KETTLE OF FISH - he loves it," he said.
- British television entertainer Justin Lee Collins
---
These days, Prudential Financial prefers buildings "that are up and leased," Smith said. "Talking about financing new construction, that's a DIFFERENT KETTLE OF FISH."
(Bloomberg News)
- British television entertainer Justin Lee Collins
---
These days, Prudential Financial prefers buildings "that are up and leased," Smith said. "Talking about financing new construction, that's a DIFFERENT KETTLE OF FISH."
(Bloomberg News)
Did you
know?
different kettle of fish
idiom
- to be completely different from something or someone else that has been talked about
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
The English are fond of saying "that's not my cup of tea" to describe something (or someone) that they don't like. So why say "a different kettle of fish" to refer to something that is completely different than what was talked about before? A different kettle of tea would make more sense. After all, the British love affair with the tea kettle is known the world over. For better or worse, we ended up with a "different kettle of fish".
As with many words and expressions, the origin of this expression is difficult to pin down. Some linguistic detectives like to point out a passage from a 1785 Thomas Newte book "A tour in England and Scotland" as a possible source:
"It is customary for the gentlemen who live near the Tweed to entertain their neighbours and friends with a Fete Champetre, which they call giving 'a kettle of fish'. Tents or marquees are pitched near the flowery banks of the river... a fire is kindled, and live salmon thrown into boiling kettles."
How this might have led to the idiom "different kettle of fish" is anyone's guess however. For those who can't get enough of the kettle of fish, try the expression "a fine kettle of fish/a pretty kettle of fish" to describe a difficult situation (The trains are not running and I'm already late for a meeting. This is a fine kettle of fish!)
---
SYNONYMS
a horse of a different colour, another can of worms, bird of another feather, different breed of cat, whole different story
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"That's a different kettle of fish, we'll discuss that issue later."
idiom
- to be completely different from something or someone else that has been talked about
(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)
---
The English are fond of saying "that's not my cup of tea" to describe something (or someone) that they don't like. So why say "a different kettle of fish" to refer to something that is completely different than what was talked about before? A different kettle of tea would make more sense. After all, the British love affair with the tea kettle is known the world over. For better or worse, we ended up with a "different kettle of fish".
As with many words and expressions, the origin of this expression is difficult to pin down. Some linguistic detectives like to point out a passage from a 1785 Thomas Newte book "A tour in England and Scotland" as a possible source:
"It is customary for the gentlemen who live near the Tweed to entertain their neighbours and friends with a Fete Champetre, which they call giving 'a kettle of fish'. Tents or marquees are pitched near the flowery banks of the river... a fire is kindled, and live salmon thrown into boiling kettles."
How this might have led to the idiom "different kettle of fish" is anyone's guess however. For those who can't get enough of the kettle of fish, try the expression "a fine kettle of fish/a pretty kettle of fish" to describe a difficult situation (The trains are not running and I'm already late for a meeting. This is a fine kettle of fish!)
---
SYNONYMS
a horse of a different colour, another can of worms, bird of another feather, different breed of cat, whole different story
---
SMUGGLE OWAD into today's conversation
"That's a different kettle of fish, we'll discuss that issue later."
