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Definition 2024


fish_out_of_water

fish out of water

See also: fish-out-of-water

English

Noun

fish out of water (plural fishes out of water or fish out of water)

  1. (idiomatic) A person in unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable, surroundings.
    • 1921, Edgar Wallace, The Book of All-Power, ch. 2:
      [I]nto this queer assembly, something of a fish out of water and wholly out of his element, strode Cherry Bim, that redoubtable man.
    • 1942 May 25, "Sport: Pitcher Hits Ball," Time (retrieved 2 Oct 2016):
      A pitcher at bat is usually considered such a fish out of water that he is expected to foul, ground or strike out.
    • 2004 Dec. 22, Jennifer Medina, "Housewives, Try This for Desperation," New York Times (retrieved 2 Oct 2016):
      Many stay-at-home fathers find that they are fish out of water, too.

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