English Explanatory Dictionary

kettle of fish

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An awkward situation.
  2. A situation recognized as different from or as an alternative to some other situation.

Pronunciation

en-au-kettle of fish.ogg

Word forms

kettle of fish kettles of fish kiddle of fish kittle of fish keddle of fish

Etymology

From kettle, a variant of kiddle, a weir or fence of stakes in a stream used to catch fish.

Synonyms

cauldron can of worms predicament ass in a sling bind bucket of syrup calvary cross cross to bear difficulty dilemma dire straits doghouse fix hole jam kettle kettle of fish ordeal pickle pinch plight quandary quagmire situation spot spot of bother sticky situation sticky wicket tight spot trouble ball game horse of a different color pair of shoes

Related words

kettle[Appendix:Glossary
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