Meaning: age of fishes

n.
from 405 million to 345 million years ago; dominance of fishes and appearance of amphibians and ammonites

fish Idiom, Proverb

a different kettle of fish

different, not the same A cult is not a religion. A cult is a different kettle of fish entirely.

big fish in a small pond

an important person in a small place He wasn

bigger fish to fry

more important people to meet or do business with Don't bother fighting with him. You've got bigger fish to fry.

cold fish

person who is unfriendly or doesn

drink like a fish

drink a lot of liquor every day If Hal is coming to visit, buy lots of beer. He drinks like a fish.

fish and company stink after three days

fish should be eaten while it is fresh, and guests should not stay too long Grandfather had this sign on the wall of his garage: Fish and company stink after three days!

fish for

try to get or to find out (something) by hinting at it She is always fishing for compliments when I see her at work.

fish for a compliment

hint that he wants a compliment If Al mentions cars, he's fishing for a compliment on his Jaguar.

fish out of water

someone who does not fit in He was like a fish out of water at the expensive restaurant.

kettle of fish

something to be considered, how things are That

neither fish nor fowl

something or someone that does not belong to a definite group I don

other fish to fry

(See bigger fish to fry)

shooting fish in a barrel

a task that is too easy, a game without challenge We won 18-2. It was like shooting fish in a barrel.

standoffish

not friendly, not sociable Brett appears to be standoffish, but he's really quite friendly.

there's something fishy

there is something wrong, there is something strange There's something fishy about a 1970 car with only 5000 km.

chocolate starfish

the anus

coldfish

a person who is unemotional or insensitive

zipperfish

a woman's genital area; vagina

fish out

1．bring out like a fish打捞
The girl fell into the river and the soldier fished her out．女孩掉进河里时，那位战士把她救上来了。
This river is in danger of being fished out．这河里的鱼有被捕光的危险。
2．bring out； draw or pull out掏出；拉出
The poor old man fished out several coins from his pocket．那个可怜的老人从口袋里掏出几个硬币。
She fished out a bunch of keys from her handbag．她从手提包里掏出一串钥匙来。
Fishing out his pipe，he filled it and puffed at it without a word．他掏出烟斗，装满烟丝，一言不发地抽了起来。

neither fish, (flesh，) nor fowl

sth．or sb．that does not belong to a definite group or known class非驴非马；不伦不类
Mrs．Harris bought a piece of furniture that was both a table and a chair．Mr．Harris said it was neither fish nor fowl．哈里斯太太买了一张桌子兼椅子的家俱，她先生说那是不伦不类。
That book is neither fish，flesh，nor fowl．这本书写得不伦不类。

neither fish, nor fowl

There are plenty of other fish in the sea

Idiom(s): There are plenty of other fish in the sea.

Theme: AVAILABILITY

There are other choices. (Used to refer to persons.)
• When John broke up with Ann, I told her not to worry. There are plenty of other fish in the sea.
• It's too bad that your secretary quit, but there are plenty of other fish in the sea.

like a fish out of water

Idiom(s): like a fish out of water

Theme: LOCATION - WRONG

appearing to be completely out of place; in a very awkward manner.
• Vincent stood there in his rented tuxedo, looking like a fish out of water.
• Whenever I am with your friends, I feel like a fish out of water. What on earth do you see in them—or me?
• At a formal dance, John is like a fish out of water.

have other fish to fry

Idiom(s): have other fish to fry

Theme: ALTERNATIVES

to have other things to do; to have more important things to do. (Other can be replaced by bigger, better, more important, etc.)
• 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.

go on a fishing expedition

Idiom(s): go on a fishing expedition

Theme: SEARCHING

to attempt to discover information.
• We are going to have to go on a fishing expedition to try to find the facts.
• One lawyer went on a fishing expedition in court, and the other lawyer objected.

fish or cut bait

Idiom(s): fish or cut bait

Theme: BUSY

either do the job you are supposed to be doing or quit and let someone else do it. (Fixed order.)
• Mary is doing much better on the job since her manager told her to fish or cut bait.
• The boss told Tom, "Quit wasting time! Fish or cut bait!"

fish in troubled waters

Idiom(s): fish in troubled waters

Theme: RISK

to involve oneself in a difficult, confused, or dangerous situation, especially with a view to gaining an advantage.
• Frank is fishing in troubled waters by buying more shares of that company. They are supposed to be in financial difficulties.
• The company could make more money by selling armaments abroad, but they would be fishing in troubled waters.

fine kettle of fish

Idiom(s): fine kettle of fish

Theme: DIFFICULTY

a real mess; an unsatisfactory situation.
• The dog has eaten the steak we were going to have for dinner. This is a fine kettle of fish!
• This is a fine kettle of fish. It's below freezing outside, and the furnace won't work.

a cold fish

Idiom(s): a cold fish

Theme: PEOPLE - NEGATIVE

a person who is distant and unfeeling. (Informal or slang.)
• Bob is so dull—a real cold fish.
• She hardly ever speaks to anyone. She's a cold fish.

Big fish

An important person in a company or an organisation is a big fish.

Different kettle of fish

If something is a different kettle of fish, it is very different from the other things referenced.

Fishy

If there is something fishy about someone or something, there is something suspicious; a feeling that there is something wrong, though it isn't clear what it is.

Gone fishing

If someone has gone fishing, they are not very aware of what is happening around them.

Like a fish needs a bicycle

If someone needs something like a Fish Needs a Bicycle, they do not need it at all, originally a feminist slogan A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle.

On a fishing expedition

If someone is on a fishing expedition, they are trying to get information, often using incorrect or improper ways to find things out.

Queer fish

(UK) A strange person is a queer fish.

Swim with the fishes

If someone is swimming with the fishes, they are dead, especially if they have been murdered. 'Sleep with the fishes' is an alternative form.

Smell Something Fishy

Detecting that something isn't right and there might be a reason for it.

it smells fishy

something that is suspicious: "He wants to do all the housework for you? That smells fishy to me!"

There are as good fish in the sea as ever came out

If an opportunity is missed, there will be plenty more.

cold fish|cold|fish

n., informal A queer person; a person who is unfriendly or does not mix with others. No one knows the new doctor, he is a cold fish. Nobody invites Eric to parties because he is a cold fish.

drink like a fish|drink|fish

v. phr. To drink (alcoholic beverages) in great quantities; to be addicted to alcohol. John is a nice guy but, unfortunately, he drinks like a fish.

fish for|fish

v., informal To try to get or to find out (something), by hinting or by a roundabout way to try to lead someone else to give or tell you what you want by hinting. Jerry was always fishing for an invitation to Bob's house. Near examination time, some of the students fish for information.

fish for a compliment|compliment|compliments|fish|

v, phr. To try to make someone pay a compliment. When Jim showed me his new car, I could tell that he was fishing for a compliment.

fish fry|fish|fry

n. An outdoor party or picnic at which fish are fried and eaten. The guests at the fish fry caught and cooked their own fish.

fish in muddy|fish|muddy|troubled|troubled waters|

v. phr. To take advantage of a troubled or confusing situation; seek personal advantage. With the police disorganized after the collapse of communism in Europe, many criminals started to fish in troubled waters.

fish or cut bait|bait|cut|fish|fish or cut

v. phr., informal 1. Decide what you want to do and stop wasting time; either act now or give someone else a chance or turn. Jack couldn't decide whether to go to college or get a job, so his father told him to fish or cut bait. "Buy the kind of ice cream you want or give someone else in line a chance. Fish or cut bait!"
Compare: MAKE UP ONE'S MIND. 2. Either try hard and do your best, or quit. Frank missed football practice so often that the coach told him to fish or cut bait.

fish out of water|fish|water

n. phr. A person who is out of his proper place in life; someone who does not fit in. Because Ed could not swim, he felt like a fish out of water at the beach. She was the only girl at the party not in a formal dress and she felt like a fish out of water.
Compare: OUT OF ONE'S ELEMENT, OUT OF PLACE.

fish story|fish|story

n. phr. An unlikely or improbable tale. Hunters and fishermen often exaggerate their successes by telling fish stories.

fish-and-chips|chips|fish

n. phr. Fried fish and french fried potatoes. The family went to a drive-in restaurant and had fish-and-chips.