Fish to fry Meaning in English

expression

US

FISH tuh FRY

UK

FISH too FRY

Definition

If you have "fish to fry," you have more important things to do or focus on right now. This idiom is used to say your attention is needed elsewhere.

Usage & Nuances

This is an informal idiom. Commonly said as 'I've got bigger/better/more important fish to fry.' Used to politely decline or shift focus from trivial matters. Doesn't actually refer to cooking or fish.

• Spanish: asuntos importantes - cosas que hacer
• Portuguese (BR): coisas mais importantes para fazer
• Portuguese (PT): coisas mais importantes para fazer
• Chinese (Simplified): 更重要的事要做 - 更有价值的事情
• Chinese (Traditional): 更重要的事要做 - 更有價值的事情
• Hindi: और ज़रूरी काम - कोई और महत्वपूर्ण काम
• Arabic: أمور أهم - أشياء أخرى تشغلني
• Bengali: আরো জরুরি কাজ আছে - গুরুত্বপূর্ণ কাজ আছে
• Russian: более важные дела - другие дела
• Japanese: やるべきことがある - 他に大事な用事がある
• Vietnamese: việc quan trọng hơn phải làm - việc khác phải làm
• Korean: 더 중요한 일이 있다 - 급한 일이 있다
• Turkish: daha önemli işlerim var - başka işlerim var
• Urdu: اہم کام ہیں - دوسرے ضروری کام ہیں
• Indonesian: urusan yang lebih penting - hal lain yang harus dikerjakan

Example Sentences

Sorry, I can't help you now—I have fish to fry.

basic

She left early because she had fish to fry.

basic

I can't waste time on this. I have fish to fry.

basic

Listen, I’ve got bigger fish to fry right now.

natural

He didn’t join the meeting because he had other fish to fry.

natural

I’d love to chat, but I honestly have fish to fry today.

natural