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Glite Dictionary
what the fish

what the fish

9.9
An informal phrase people say to show surprise or disbelief
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : ¿qué demonios?
  • When I saw the final bill, I couldn't help but exclaim, what the fish!

Examples

  • He suddenly started dancing in the middle of the street, and I thought, what the fish?

  • Did she really say that? What the fish!

  • After reading the strange message, she messaged back, 'what the fish is going on here?'

  • I just saw a cat wearing a hat! What the fish is going on?

  • When I heard his plans for the weekend, I thought, 'what the fish is he thinking?'

  • She showed up to the meeting dressed as a clown, and I was like, 'what the fish is happening here?'

  • After seeing the unexpected plot twist in the movie, I exclaimed, 'what the fish just happened?'

Synonyms

what the hell
vswhat the fish
  • NSFW
347 8.9

An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something

is milder and usually playful rather than carrying real anger or harshness
what the heck
vswhat the fish
  • Informal
90 8.9

A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance

is more playful and often humorous rather than only plain mildness
what a surprise
vswhat the fish
8 2.6

Words people say when they are surprised to see something

is a short playful exclamation used to show surprise rather than describe it
blimey
vswhat the fish
  • UK
4 9.5

A short word people say when they are surprised or shocked

is milder and usually used playfully rather than showing strong shock
the dickens
vswhat the fish
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A strong shout that shows surprise or confusion

is more modern and playful, used as a mild humorous replacement for stronger exclamations
what the flip
vswhat the fish
  • Informal
9.9

A short phrase people use to show surprise or disbelief without a bad word

is more playful and humorous while still avoiding strong expletives
what the what
vswhat the fish
  • Informal
9.9

A short phrase people say to show surprise or confusion

is milder and used jokingly as a playful replacement for stronger exclamations
the hell you say
vswhat the fish
  • Informal
9.9

A strong spoken reaction showing surprise and disbelief

is a general surprise exclamation used without needing a recent statement
holy doodle
vswhat the fish
  • Informal
9.9

A word people say to show strong surprise

is more about mild disbelief or playful shock than impressed amazement
bejeezus
vswhat the fish
  • Informal
9.9

A loud informal shout that shows surprise, shock, or strong annoyance

is milder and more playful avoiding the sharper annoyance in that expression
by gummy
vswhat the fish
  • UK
9.9

A word you say to show surprise or strong feeling

is mainly a playful mild exclamation rather than a strong emphatic marker

How Strong

what the fuck ever
  • Offensive
9.9
what the hell
  • NSFW
347 8.9
what the heck
  • Informal
90 8.9
what the fish
  • Informal
9.9
what the what
  • Informal
9.9

Surface Forms

what the fish main

Morphology

what + the + fish

The interrogative 'what' signals an exclamative frame so a B1 learner could infer this is an expression of surprise or confusion from context. However, 'fish' functions as a playful/euphemistic filler (replacing a stronger expletive), which is idiomatic and not predictable from the literal meanings, so the phrase is only partially transparent.

Etymology

What the fish comes from people changing the rude phrase 'what the f*' by swapping the swear word for fish** as a funny, softer word. So it keeps the strong feeling but sounds mild and is used to show 'surprise' or 'disbelief'.