Have bigger fish to fry
/hæv ˈbɪɡər fɪʃ tə fraɪ/
Definition
The meaning: To have bigger fish to fry is an idiomatic expression used to indicate that someone has more important or pressing matters to attend to than the current topic or task.
La signification: Cette expression idiomatique est utilisée pour indiquer que quelqu'un a des choses plus importantes ou urgentes à faire que le sujet ou la tâche en cours.
Note: This phrase is often used to dismiss or downplay the importance of a particular issue, suggesting that there are more significant concerns to address. To have "other fish to fry" is also commonly used.
Word Analysis
French synonyms » Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter » Avoir des choses plus importantes à faire » Avoir des priorités plus urgentes » Avoir des problèmes plus graves » Avoir des soucis plus importants [Il a ignoré la critique, car il avait d'autres chats à fouetter.]
English synonyms » Have more important things to do » Have other priorities » Have pressing matters » Have urgent concerns » Have weightier issues [She didn't respond to the email because she had bigger fish to fry.]
Example Dialogue
Rethabile: "Why didn't you finish the report?"
Motlatsi: "I had bigger fish to fry—my son was sick, and I had to take him to the hospital."
Rethabile: "I understand, family comes first."
Motlatsi: "Exactly, some things are just more important."
Etymology
Origin: The phrase "have bigger fish to fry" dates back to the 17th century. It is believed to have originated from the idea of prioritising larger or more valuable fish over smaller ones when fishing. Over time, it evolved into a metaphor for prioritising more important tasks or concerns over less significant ones. The phrase is now widely used to indicate that someone has more pressing matters to attend to.
Audience
The phrase "have bigger fish to fry" is informal and often used in a dismissive or pragmatic manner. It is commonly used in casual conversations to indicate that someone has more important matters to attend to.
When to use: Use this phrase in informal settings when you want to convey that you or someone else has more pressing concerns. For example: "I can't deal with this right now—I have bigger fish to fry." It is not suitable for formal contexts, as it can come across as too casual or dismissive.
Dictionary Meaning
Wiktionary says the expression is used to indicate "a much more pressing issue to attend to" or "a higher-valued result or target to reach." Here's my example of use: 'I'm not wasting any more time on this. I have bigger fish to fry.'
News Snippet
"If you’re a rich country with a guilt complex about global warming, it might make political sense to establish elaborate carbon trading or carbon tax schemes—even if the practical outcomes are never what was promised and benefit only government bureaucrats and green special interests. But unless you’re rich in South Africa, you’ll agree that in unemployment, poverty, education and healthcare, this country has bigger fish to fry."
Read the full article at The Daily Maverick
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Common Idioms and Expressions
Bigger fish to fry: To have more important or pressing matters to deal with.
Example: "I can’t worry about that now—I have bigger fish to fry."
More important matters to attend to: Having other priorities that take precedence over a current issue.
Example: "She didn’t argue about the small mistake because she had more important matters to attend to."
Other fish to fry: Similar to "bigger fish to fry," meaning there are other responsibilities or concerns that require attention.
Example: "I won’t stay for the meeting. I have other fish to fry."
More pressing concerns: To be preoccupied with more urgent issues.
Example: "We can discuss that later—right now, we have more pressing concerns."
Not worth my time: Indicating that something is not important enough to focus on.
Example: "I won’t argue over that minor issue—it’s just not worth my time."
Greater priorities: Having more significant matters to focus on.
Example: "He skipped the party because he had greater priorities at work."
Focus on the bigger picture: To concentrate on larger, more meaningful goals rather than minor details.
Example: "Let’s not worry about this small issue… we need to focus on the bigger picture."
Move on to something more important: To leave behind trivial matters in favour of more significant ones.
Example: "I don’t have time for this now. I need to move on to something more important."
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