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Kettle of Fish

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A fête-champêtre in which salmon is the chief dish provided. In these pic-nics, a large caldron being provided, the party select a place near a salmon river. Having thickened some water with salt to the consistency of brine, the salmon is put therein and boiled; and when fit for eating, the company partake thereof in gipsy fashion. Some think the discomfort of this sort of pic-nic gave rise to the phrase “A pretty kettle of fish.” (See Kittle of Fish.)

“The whole company go to the waterside today to eat a kettle of fish.”—Sir Walter Scott: St. Ronan’s Well, xii.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Kersey
Kerseymere
Kerzereh or Kerzrah
Kesora
Kestrel
Ketch
Ketch
Ketchup
Ketmir or Katmir
Kettle (A)
Kettle of Fish
Kettledrum
Kettledrummle (Gabriel.)
Kevin (St.)
Kex
Key
Key-cold
Key-stone
Key and the Bible (A)
Key of a Cipher
Key of the Mediterranean