Meaning & use
a dead fish
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
a fish that is no longer alive
Grammar: Used as a countable noun phrase; you can say 'a dead fish' or 'dead fish' (plural).
Patterns
- a dead fish
- dead fish
The pond was full of dead fish after the pollution.
He found a dead fish floating near the shore.
We could smell the dead fish from far away.
phraseidiomfigurativeinformal
used in similes to describe someone or something that is lifeless, dull, or unresponsive
Grammar: Usually in the pattern 'like a dead fish' or 'as dead as a fish'.
Patterns
- like a dead fish
- as dead as a fish
His handshake was like a dead fish—cold and limp.
The party was like a dead fish: nobody danced or talked.
She gave me a dead fish look and turned away.
Common combinations
- like a dead fish
- The actor's performance was like a dead fish—no energy at all.
- as dead as a fish
- The battery was as dead as a fish.
- a dead fish handshake
- Nobody likes a dead fish handshake.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lifeless
- Lifeless is an adjective meaning without life or energy; 'a dead fish' is a noun phrase used in comparisons.
- dull
- Dull means not interesting or exciting; 'like a dead fish' suggests complete lack of response or energy.
Opposites
Commonly confused: a dead fish or dead fish?
a dead fish vs dead fish
As a compound noun, 'dead fish' is literal; the figurative use almost always appears with 'like' or 'as'.
Practice
What does 'like a dead fish' usually mean when describing a handshake?
Choose one answer.
The simile 'like a dead fish' describes something limp, cold, and without energy, especially a weak handshake.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a dead fish”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.