Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
have other fish to fry. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
have other fish to fry, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
have other fish to fry in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
have other fish to fry you have here. The definition of the word
have other fish to fry will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
have other fish to fry, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Verb
have other fish to fry (third-person singular simple present has other fish to fry, present participle having other fish to fry, simple past and past participle had other fish to fry)
- (idiomatic) To have more important things to do.
c. 1710, The Journal to Stella, Jonathan Swift, ch. 2, Letter 15:I have other fish to fry; so good-morrow, my ladies all, good-morrow.
1849, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], chapter 20, in Shirley. A Tale. , volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Smith, Elder and Co., , →OCLC:Your uncle will not return yet; he has other fish to fry; he will be galloping backwards and forwards from Briarfield to Stilbro' all day.
1905, George Bernard Shaw, chapter 15, in The Irrational Knot:"May I ask whether you will be persuaded to come?"
"No, for certain. I have other fish to fry here."
Translations
to have more important things to do
See also