Meaning
Other, usually more important or more interesting things to do, invoked to explain why one is not attending to the matter at hand. Almost always in the phrase have other fish to fry, and now frequently strengthened to bigger fish to fry; the tone ranges from neutral to dismissive. Informal; the 'bigger fish' strengthening is now commoner in ordinary speech than the original wording. Regional use: General English.
Origin
The OED's earliest citation is from 1660, 'I fear he hath other fish to fry', occurring in John Evelyn's memoirs, though the words stand in a letter written to Evelyn by Samuel Hartlib. Etymonline dates the expression to the 1650s, glossing it as other matters inviting or requiring attention. A Spanish analogue appears in Cervantes' Don Quixote and entered English through later translations, while French uses a different image, avoir d'autres chats a fouetter, to have other cats to whip; the popular story that the English phrase originates in a translation of Moliere is not substantiated by the sources checked. The literal picture is simply a cook whose pan is already occupied.
Research Sources
References used to check this entry’s meaning, history, or documented forms.
Variants
- got other fish to fry
- have better fish to fry
- have other fish to fry
Usage Examples
- I would happily join the parking committee, but this year I have other fish to fry.
- The regulator has bigger fish to fry than a squabble between two village fete organizers.
- When the takeover collapsed the investors moved on without fuss; they had other fish to fry in Asia.