Have other fish to fry Meaning in English
expression
HAV UTH-er FISH tuh FRY
hav UTH-uh FISH too FRY
Definition
This expression means you have more important tasks or priorities to focus on than the current situation or conversation.
Usage & Nuances
This is an informal idiom. It's often used to politely end a conversation, show you are busy, or to de-prioritize something. Similar to 'have bigger things to worry about.' Not about actual fish.
Spanish: tener otros asuntos que atender - tener cosas más importantes que hacerPortuguese (BR): ter outros assuntos para resolver - ter coisa mais importante para fazerPortuguese (PT): ter outros assuntos para tratar - ter coisas mais importantes para fazerChinese (Simplified): 还有别的要紧事要做 - 另有要事Chinese (Traditional): 還有別的要緊事要做 - 另有要事Hindi: कोई और ज़रूरी काम करना हैArabic: لدي أمور أخرى أهم (لدي ما هو أهم لأفعله)Bengali: অন্য জরুরি কাজ আছে - আরও গুরুত্বপূর্ণ কিছু করতে হবেRussian: другие, более важные делаJapanese: 他にやるべきことがあるVietnamese: có việc quan trọng hơn phải làmKorean: 더 중요한 일이 있다Turkish: başka önemli işlerim varUrdu: میرے پاس اور اہم کام ہیںIndonesian: ada urusan lain yang lebih penting
Example Sentences
I can't help right now—I have other fish to fry.
basic
She left the meeting early because she had other fish to fry.
basic
If you don't want to join us, that's fine—you have other fish to fry.
basic
Sorry, I can't talk right now, I have other fish to fry.
natural
I didn't go to the party because I had other fish to fry that night.
natural
They kept arguing, but honestly, I have other fish to fry and left the room.
natural