subs. (common).—1. A man; generally in contempt or disparagement as ODD FISH, LOOSE FISH, QUEER FISH, SCALY FISH, SHY FISH (all of which see). Cf. COVE.
2. (tailors’).—Pieces cut out of garments to make them fit close.
3. (venery).—Generic for the female pudendum: e.g., A BIT OF FISH = A GRIND (q.v.); FISH-MARKET = a brothel; and TO GO FISHING = to go GROUSING (q.v.).
Verb (colloquial).—To attempt to obtain by artifice; to seek indirectly; to curry favour.
PRETTY KETTLE OF FISH, subs. phr. (colloquial).—A perplexing state of affairs; a quandary.
TO HAVE OTHER FISH TO FRY, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To have other business on hand.
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v.
1836. M. SCOTT, The Cruise of the Midge, p. 90. He shouted to us, and pointed to his cargo; but we HAD OTHER FISH TO FRY, and accordingly never relaxed in our pulling.
TO BE NEITHER FISH NOR FLESH, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be neither one thing nor another; said of waverers and nondescripts; sometimes extended to NEITHER FISH, FLESH, FOWL, NOR GOOD RED HERRING.
1598. SHAKESPEARE, 2 Henry IV., iv. 3. Falstaff. Why, she’s NEITHER FISH NOR FLESH; a man knows not where to have her.
1682. DRYDEN, Epilogue to the Duke of Guise, 39.
| Damn’d Neuters, in their middle way of steering, | |
| Are NEITHER FISH NOR FLESH NOR GOOD RED HERRING. |
