Question

Can you explain what "fish out of water" means?

2023-06-25

This is what goPenpal answered

Of course! "Fish out of water" is a common idiomatic expression in English, used to describe a situation where someone is feeling uncomfortable or out of place. It's as if you take a fish out of its natural habitat, the water, and it suddenly finds itself flapping around helplessly on the dry land. In the same vein, when a person is described as a "fish out of water," it means they're in an environment or tasked with a role that they're not used to and causing them to feel uneasy or awkward. You might hear this phrase in various contexts. For instance, someone moving from a small town to a big bustling city might feel like a "fish out of water," or maybe someone starting a new job in a field they're not familiar with. It's a colloquial way to express that feeling of not fitting in or feeling out of one's depth.

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