Ever heard someone say they “have bigger fish to fry” and wondered if they were planning a big seafood dinner? Not quite!
This idiom is all about prioritizing bigger tasks or problems over smaller ones. Let’s pounce into its meaning and see what it’s like to have really big fish waiting for your attention!
What does “Have Bigger Fish to Fry” mean?
To “have bigger fish to fry” means to have more important or significant tasks to address than the current ones. It’s used when someone wants to communicate that they need to focus on more pressing issues or priorities.
For example, if someone is caught up in a minor argument but has a major project deadline looming, they might say they have bigger fish to fry as a way to shift focus to the more critical task.
Where does “Have Bigger Fish to Fry” come from?
This idiom has flavorful origins in culinary practices where literally frying bigger fish would be a priority over smaller ones due to their value, the time, and the effort involved in cooking them. Metaphorically, it has been adopted into the English language to signify the importance of larger tasks or goals.
The phrase has been in use for several centuries, with early literary references suggesting that it was well understood to mean dealing with more important issues.
How to use “Have Bigger Fish to Fry”
This phrase is handy for emphasizing the importance of prioritizing tasks. Here are some ways you can use it:
- “I can’t join the meeting about the color of the new office paint; I have bigger fish to fry with the upcoming audit.”
- “Mom says she has bigger fish to fry than worrying about my messy room—she’s preparing for the community fundraiser.”
- “While I’d love to help plan the party, I have bigger fish to fry with my finals coming up next week.”
Other ways to say “Prioritize Important Tasks”
If “have bigger fish to fry” is already in your vocabulary but you’re fishing for more options, here are a few:
- Deal with bigger issues
- Focus on larger concerns
- Tackle more significant challenges
- Prioritize major tasks
Fun ways to practice “Have Bigger Fish to Fry”
Incorporating this idiom into learning activities can be both educational and entertaining:
During family game night, use the phrase to decide which games are more fun or involve everyone more significantly. Or you can create a list of tasks with your child, identifying which are “small fish” and which are “big fish” to teach prioritization.
Try discussing scenarios from children’s books or movies where characters had to decide what was more important, and relate it to having bigger fish to fry.
And that’s all!
“Have bigger fish to fry” isn’t really about seafood; it’s about recognizing and addressing the most important tasks at hand. Whether it’s in personal life, school, or work, using this idiom can help articulate the need to focus on what truly matters.
Let’s keep our eyes on the big fish!