different kettle of fish
Meaning
A completely different situation, topic, or problem than the one being discussed.
Origin
From British English; a "kettle" can mean a pot for boiling. The idea is that cooking a different batch/species of fish is a separate matter altogether. The phrase is attested from the 19th century.
Notes
Used to separate one issue from another (“that’s a different matter”). Informal to neutral tone; often said as “that’s a different kettle of fish.”
Examples
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Fixing a typo is easy, but rebuilding the whole website is a different kettle of fish.
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I can handle cooking for two, but catering for fifty is a different kettle of fish.
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Talking about the plan is one thing; getting everyone to agree is a different kettle of fish.
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He’s great at short runs, but a marathon is a different kettle of fish.
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The basic model is affordable, but the premium version is a different kettle of fish.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used with an article and often preceded by “a/that’s”: “a different kettle of fish,” “that’s a different kettle of fish.” Plural “kettles” is uncommon; word order is fixed.
Synonyms
- different matter
- another story
- a whole other thing
- a different ball game
Antonyms
- same thing
- one and the same
- same kettle of fish