better fish to fry



better fish to fry

More important things to do. This way of saying that you don't want to waste your time with something (or someone) goes back to 17th-century England. Its French equivalent is “other dogs to whip.” Variations are “other fish to fry” and “better fish to fry.”
See also: better, fish, fry

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
CarloKAHR-loItalian
Nicolle[ni:'kɔ:l]
Deryn-Welsh
Whitlock['hwitlɔk]
Rosalindaro-sah-LEEN-dah (Spanish), ro-zah-LEEN-dah (Italian)Spanish, Italian
AinoIE-no (Finnish) Finnish, Finnish Mythology