Have bigger fish to fry

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Meaning

To have more important things to deal with.

Origin

From 17th-century England, tied to fishing; 'bigger fish' meant more, slang by 1660s in a Pepys note for skip. A 1690s text uses it for a pass.

Variants

  • Bigger fish

Usage Examples

  • I've got bigger fish to fry-later!
  • Bigger fish to fry; skip this mess.
  • Fish to fry; got more on.

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