be a different kettle of fish

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be a different kettle of fish

To be entirely different in scope or description from someone or something that was just being discussed. Steve: "So you like your first two roommates, but what about your third one?" Joe: "William? Oh, he's a different kettle of fish altogether." I suppose we could start looking at buying a house now that our baby is on the way, but that's an entirely different kettle of fish!

See also: different, fish, kettle, of

a different kettle of fish

or

another kettle of fish

BRITISH

COMMON You say that something is a different kettle of fish or another kettle of fish to emphasize that it is completely unlike another thing that you are mentioning. Artistic integrity? Who needs it? Money? Now that's a completely different kettle of fish. Howard was a sweetheart. But Clarisse was another kettle of fish.

See also: different, fish, kettle, of

a different kettle of fish

a completely different matter or type of person from the one previously mentioned. informal

1993 Empire Meryl is the finest actress of her generation but Arnold is, er, a different kettle of fish.

See also: different, fish, kettle, of

a different kettle of ˈfish

(informal) a person or thing that is completely different from somebody/something else previously mentioned: You may be able to read French well, but speaking it fluently is a different kettle of fish entirely.

A kettle in this idiom is a pan in which you can cook a whole fish.

See also: different, fish, kettle, of