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Fish idioms This month we are looking at some general fish idioms.

There are plenty more fish in the sea There are lots of other men/women to go out with. Something people say to someone who has just split up with a girlfriend or boyfriend.

“Don’t worry about Jim. There are plenty more fish in the sea.”

Fish for compliments To try to make someone say good things about you., often by criticising yourself A: Do I look fat in this dress? B: No, of course not. Are you fishing for compliments?

Be another kettle of fish If you say that something (or someone) is “another kettle of fish”, you are saying that it (or he/she) is completely different.

“I’ve driven a scooter before, but riding on that 600 cc motorbike is a completely different kettle of fish.”

A queer fish This means a “strange person”.

“He washes his hands about thirty times a day. He’s a bit of a queer fish.”

Smell fishy If a situation or an explanation “smells fishy”, you think that someone is being dishonest.

“Jim’s version of events smells a bit fishy to me – I think he was the one who did it.”

Fish for information To try to obtain information. A: How much does Bob earn each year? B: Why? Are you fishing for information?

i see a new family moved in next door

to you.

Will i ever love again?

I’m just a bit eccentric, that’s all.

what do you expect me to say?

it all smells a bit fishy to me.

GLOSSARYto split up with exp to separate; to stop going out with someone a compliment na nice comment on someone’s clothes/appearance/abilities, etc a kettle n a metal container used for boiling water – often water for making tea

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