quite a fish

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quite a fish" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something or someone as notable or impressive, often in a surprising or unexpected way. Example: "When I caught that trout, I realized it was quite a fish, much larger than I had anticipated."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Quite a fish.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Turturro's character in the film remains a bit of a blank: hot stuff in the sack, but quite a cold fish otherwise.

The Guardian - Film

I can't quite see a fishing pro with a Southern accent (all bass fisherman have Southern accents, wherever they come from) pitching a new lure guaranteed to drive salmon-formed growlers wild.

The New York Times - Arts

In the Diving Bell and the Butterfly, I took Mathieu and Anne Consigny to eat many times, so that whole scene where they are in Le Duc and they eat all that fish, there were no rehearsals but they certainly ate quite a lot of fish before they did that other scene.

The Guardian - Film

Barramundi is quite a moist, firm fish, with pinkish white flesh, not too rich.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"The stripers are social creatures, and one small group will take up with another until you have quite a group of fish assembled".

The New York Times - Sports

Salmon is quite a rich, oily fish and here it's partnered with syrupy pomegranate molasses, and the two together risk being overwhelming and cloying.

Independent

Nikolski never settles into a predictable groove, eventually encompassing Venezuela, a criminal career for Joyce, a professor of trash and quite a lot of fish, among much else.

The Guardian - Books

But according to Dr Damodaran, a food scientist, this so-called "bycatch" could be rescued from its watery grave and put to work in quite a different form.All fish, bycatch or not, are a rich source of protein.

The Economist

After tackling a couple of the simpler patterns (and quite a lot dried fish), I embarked on my very own Nordic knitted creation – a traditional sweater using the Gásareydað design, which I found in a copy of Faroese knitting bible Føroysk Bindingarmynstur.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We do eat quite a lot of fish, fruit and vegetables as well.

BMC Family Practice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "quite a fish" to express surprise or admiration for an impressive specimen or unexpectedly significant situation.

Common error

Avoid using "quite a fish" when simply describing a fish's characteristics. Reserve it for instances where the fish is notably exceptional or surprising in some way.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quite a fish" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used as a noun phrase to express admiration or surprise at the size, rarity, or other notable characteristics of a fish, as seen in the Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Wiki

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "quite a fish" is used to describe something or someone as notably impressive or surprisingly significant. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically sound and usable in English. The phrase is commonly found across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While versatile, avoid using it for simple, unremarkable descriptions. Consider alternatives like "remarkable fish" or "exceptional fish" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remarkable fish

Emphasizes the outstanding nature of the fish.

noteworthy fish

Highlights the fish's significance or interest.

exceptional fish

Focuses on the fish being beyond the ordinary.

impressive fish

Highlights the fish's ability to evoke admiration.

considerable fish

Indicates the fish is of substantial size or importance.

significant fish

Emphasizes the fish's importance or impact.

unique fish

Focuses on the fish being different or one-of-a-kind.

unusual fish

Highlights the fish's atypical characteristics.

singular fish

Stresses the fish's distinctiveness.

extraordinary fish

Implies the fish is beyond what is common or usual.

FAQs

How can I use "quite a fish" in a sentence?

You can use "quite a fish" to describe a particularly impressive or surprising fish. For example, "When I caught that trout, I realized it was "quite a fish", much larger than I had anticipated."

What does "quite a fish" mean?

The phrase "quite a fish" means something or someone is notable or impressive, often in a surprising or unexpected way.

What are some alternatives to "quite a fish"?

Alternatives include "remarkable fish", "noteworthy fish", or "exceptional fish".

When is it appropriate to use "quite a fish"?

It's appropriate when describing something as notably impressive or surprisingly significant. Avoid using it for simple, unremarkable descriptions.