different kettle of fish
1
7.7
- idiom
- Informal
:
otro tema
- Finding a suitable place to live is one challenge, but getting the financing is a different kettle of fish.
This is a whole different kettle of fish.
- This is a whole different kettle of fish.
Examples
-
We do think about class, but that's a different kettle of fish.
Blog text (18) -
It's a totally different kettle of fish.
-
The other couple was a whole different kettle of fish.
Fiction book (2002) -
Internet marketing in general can be frustrating because you always have more you can do, but software is a whole different kettle of fish.
Blog text (29) -
That's a very different kettle of fish.
Blog text (1) -
But that's a different kettle of fish.
Blog text (20) -
That's a whole different kettle of fish then, OK, you won, which is what they do and the Republicans don't.
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Discussing the budget was straightforward, but planning the year's events is a different kettle of fish.
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While managing the project was difficult, dealing with the team proved to be a different kettle of fish.
Synonyms
3
6.1
A situation that is very different and needs a new way to act or think
1
8.8
A different matter from what was discussed
Antonyms
How Different
- Informal
1
8.8
- Informal
1
7.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
different + kettle + of + fish
The meaning 'a situation or subject that is completely different' cannot be predicted from the literal parts 'different' + 'kettle' + 'fish' because 'kettle of fish' functions as an idiomatic unit whose relation to 'a different matter' is arbitrary. A B1 learner who knows the individual words would therefore be unlikely to infer the idiomatic sense without prior exposure, and similar metaphors are not universally shared across languages.
Etymology
The idiom different kettle of fish may come from a simple picture of cooking fish in a kettle: a different kettle of fish meant a different batch with its own issues. So it now means 'a situation that is completely different'.