English

Verb

have other fish to fry

1. (idiomatic) To have more important things to do.
   • c. 1710, Jonathan Swift, The Journal to Stella, ch. 2, Letter 15:

     I have other fish to fry; so good-morrow, my ladies all, good-morrow.

   • 1849, Charlotte Brontë, Shirley, ch. 20:

     Your uncle will not return yet; he has other fish to fry; he will be galloping backwards and forwards from Briarfield to Stilbro' all day.

   • 1905, George Bernard Shaw, The Irrational Knot, ch. 15:

     "May I ask whether you will be persuaded to come?"

     "No, for certain. I have other fish to fry here."

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