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Saucepans like this were probably the origin of the phrase ‘a pretty kettle of fish’. Fish kettles are the long saucepans that have been used since the 17th century to poach fish, especially large fish like whole salmon.
Oct 26, 2011 · The custom was described by Thomas Newte in his Tour of England and Scotland in 1785: “It is customary for the gentlemen who live near the Tweed to entertain their neighbours and friends with a Fete Champetre, which they call giving ‘a kettle of fish’.
Kettle of fish. The expression dates from the 18th century and has developed two meanings. Firstly, the original one, a fine kettle of fish means that an awkward or disagreeable state of affairs has arisen. Secondly, a different kettle of fish means a new or different state of affairs has arisen.
‘A different kettle of fish’, and I have to say it, is a different kettle of fish from ‘a pretty kettle of fish’. The ‘different’ variant is much later than the original ‘pretty’ form, from which it clearly derives, despite the two phrases have very different meanings.
The exact origin of the phrase “kettle of fish” is uncertain, but it has been in use for several centuries. One theory suggests that the term comes from Scotland, where salmon were caught in large quantities during annual fishing expeditions known as a “fish kettle.”
Jul 6, 2016 · The phrase ‘a pretty kettle of fish’ originally referred to a net full of fish, which, when drawn up with its contents, is suggestive of confusion, flurry and disorder—‘kettle’ being a form of ‘kiddle’, a noun denoting a dam or other barrier in a river, with an opening fitted with nets to catch fish.
May 17, 2022 · Origin. A fish kettle is a large steel pot used to poach fish like salmon. It was a common household item in 1700s England, and adventuresses would take them with them when touring the rivers of the United States.
This term is believed to come from a Scottish custom of holding a riverside picnic, itself called a “kettle of fish,” where freshly caught live salmon are thrown into a kettle boiling over an open fire and then are eaten out of hand, definitely a messy procedure.
Apr 26, 2003 · Kettle of fish. Q From Heather Rechtman; Geoff Genford: What is the origin of the expression that’s a different kettle of fish? Is it British or American? A It’s originally British. There are actually two common idioms based around the phrase a kettle of fish. One is yours, which means “This is a different matter from the one previously ...
strait. the Augean Stables idiom. the hard way idiom. See more results » (Definition of a pretty/fine kettle of fish from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press) Translations of a pretty/fine kettle of fish. in Chinese (Traditional) 難辦的事, 尷尬的局面… See more. in Chinese (Simplified) 难办的事, 尴尬的局面… See more.
