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A fish out of water

A fish out of water

Meaning

Someone in an unfamiliar circumstance.

Examples

He’s a fine golfer but in this dance competition he’s a fish out of water.

Where did it originate?

The United Kingdom – 17th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
A fish out of water

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