- An unpleasant or messy predicament; also called a fine or pretty kettle of fish. 2. A different or another kettle of fish: a very different matter or issue, not necessarily bad.
Examples:
- They haven't spoken in years, and they're assigned to adjoining seats—that's a fine kettle of fish.
Origin: Early 1700s for sense 1; first half of 1900s for sense 2; alludes to a Scottish riverside picnic where freshly caught salmon were boiled