fish
A1Neutral (used in all registers from informal to formal)
Definition
Meaning
A limbless cold-blooded vertebrate animal with gills and fins living wholly in water.
Also refers to the flesh of such animals as food; to the activity of catching fish; or metaphorically to a person considered in a particular way (e.g., 'a cold fish').
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word 'fish' is both a countable noun (for individual animals) and a mass noun (for food). Its plural form is usually 'fish', but 'fishes' is used for multiple species or in formal/biological contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. The term 'seafood' is more common than 'fish and shellfish' in AmE for the food category. The phrase 'fish finger' (BrE) vs. 'fish stick' (AmE).
Connotations
Similar. Connotations of being slippery, cold, or associated with Friday/religious fasting are present in both.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Noun: He caught a fish.Verb (intransitive): They fish in the lake.Verb (transitive): He fished a key from his pocket.Noun + of: a fish of remarkable sizeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A big fish in a small pond.”
- “There are plenty of other fish in the sea.”
- “Fish out of water.”
- “Neither fish nor fowl.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In business, can refer to the seafood industry or a target client ('land a big fish').
Academic
In biology, used for taxonomic classification and study of Pisces.
Everyday
Commonly used for food, pets, and the hobby of fishing.
Technical
In computing, 'phishing' (a homophone pun); in card games, 'to fish' for a specific card.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- We often fish for trout in this river.
- He fished in his pocket for a coin.
American English
- Let's go fishing at the lake this weekend.
- She fished the receipt out of her bag.
adjective
British English
- We visited a fish market in Billingsgate.
- He has a fish knife and fork for the course.
American English
- The fish tacos here are excellent.
- We're having a fish fry on Friday.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like to eat fish for dinner.
- The cat watched the fish in the bowl.
- We're going to the coast to fish for mackerel.
- This recipe calls for a firm white fish.
- He felt like a fish out of water at the formal gala.
- The company is fishing for investors in the new market.
- Her argument was neither fish nor fowl, failing to commit to a clear position.
- The biologist catalogued dozens of deep-sea fishes previously unknown to science.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound 'fish' like the water sound 'splish' - both are short and associated with water.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEOPLE ARE FISH (e.g., 'a big fish', 'a cold fish', 'fishing for information').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- The mass noun use for food (I ate fish) is 'рыба', same as the animal, not a different word.
- The verb 'to fish' is 'рыбачить' or 'ловить рыбу', not a direct cognate.
- Plural 'fish' for multiple animals of same species can be confusing as Russian requires a plural form.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'fishes' incorrectly as a general plural (e.g., 'I saw three fishes').
- Confusing 'fish' (n) with 'fishing' (v).
- Omitting article for countable use: 'He is a fish' (incorrect for 'He is a fisherman').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'fish' as a mass noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually 'fish' (e.g., I caught five fish). 'Fishes' is used when referring to multiple different species (e.g., the fishes of the coral reef).
Yes, it means to try to catch fish, or to search for something (often in a container), e.g., 'to fish for keys in a bag'.
'Seafood' is a broader category that includes fish, shellfish (like prawns, crabs), and other edible sea life. 'Fish' refers specifically to finned aquatic vertebrates.
It's an idiom meaning there are many other potential romantic partners or opportunities available, comparing people to fish in a large ocean.
Collections
Part of a collection
Food and Drink
A1 · 49 words · Common words for food, drink and meals.