fry (redirected from fries)

fry something up

to cook something by frying. Let's fry some chicken up for dinner. We fried up some chicken.

See also: up

Go fry an egg!

Go away and stop bothering me! Go away and stop bothering me. Go fry an egg! Get out of my way! Go fry an egg!

have bigger fish to fry and have other fish to fry; have more important fish to fry

Fig. to have other things to do; to have more important things to do. I can't take time for your problem. I have other fish to fry. I won't waste time on your question. I have bigger fish to fry.

See also: big, fish, have

language that would fry bacon

Rur. profanity; swearing; curse words. ("Hot" language.) He carried on in language that would fry bacon. I was shocked when I heard that sweet little girl use language that would fry bacon.

See also: bacon, language

small fry 

1. Lit. newly hatched fish; small, juvenile fish. The catch was bad today. Nothing but small fry.

2. Fig. unimportant people. The police have only caught the small fry. The leader of the gang is still free. You people are just small fry! I want to talk to the boss.

3. Fig. children. Peter's taking the small fry to the zoo. We should take the small fry to the pantomime.

See also: small

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have bigger/other fish to fry

to have something more important or more interesting to do I couldn't waste my time trying to reach an agreement with them, I had other fish to fry.

See also: big, fish, have

small fry  (informal)

1. people, organizations, or activities that are not large or important The small fry are soon going to be pushed out of business by all these multinationals. This investigation is small fry for a police force used to massive inquiries.

2. (American humorous) very young children These computer games will really intrigue the small fry in your house - kids love them.

See also: small

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have bigger fish to fry also have other fish to fry

to have something more important or more interesting to do I couldn't spend a lot of time on the problem – I had other fish to fry.

See also: big, fish, have