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Meaning & use

plenty more fish

phrase·Everydayinformal

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UK/ˌplenti mɔː ˈfɪʃ/
US/ˌplenti mɔːr ˈfɪʃ/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phraseinformal

    used to comfort someone whose relationship has ended, meaning that many other possible partners exist.

    Grammar: Used as a complete comforting remark, often after 'there are' or on its own: Don't worry — plenty more fish.

    Patterns

    • there are plenty more fish in the sea
    • plenty more fish in the sea

    She cried for a week after he left, but her friends kept telling her there are plenty more fish in the sea.

    I know it hurts now, but remember: plenty more fish.

    He told his brother there were plenty more fish in the sea and he would meet someone new soon.

  2. phrasefixed phraseinformalfigurative

    used more broadly to say that other chances, options, or people are available when one is lost.

    Grammar: Informal and slightly jokey when used about jobs, teams, or opportunities rather than romance.

    Patterns

    • there are plenty more fish in the sea

    You didn't get that job, but there are plenty more fish in the sea.

    Don't be upset about losing one customer — plenty more fish in the sea.

Common combinations

there are plenty more fish in the sea
After the breakup, his mother reminded him that there are plenty more fish in the sea.
plenty more fish in the sea
Her friends said it was just a matter of time — plenty more fish in the sea.
tell someone there are plenty more fish
Everyone kept telling her there were plenty more fish, but she wasn't ready to hear it.
plenty more fish out there
Cheer up — there are plenty more fish out there for you.
use the plenty more fish line
He hated it when people used the plenty more fish line after a breakup.

Synonyms and how they differ

there are other fish in the sea
A fuller, more traditional version of the same comfort; it sounds slightly more formal or old-fashioned than the short form.
you'll find someone else
A direct, plain way to say the same thing; it is more personal and less like a set saying.

Word family

fish noun
an animal that lives in water; the word at the heart of this saying.
fishing noun
the activity of catching fish, sometimes used jokingly about looking for a partner.

Commonly confused: plenty more fish or plenty of fish?

plenty more fish vs plenty of fish

This is just a quantity phrase meaning 'a lot of fish'; the full idiom adds 'more' and 'in the sea' to give the comforting meaning about other partners.

Practice

Which sentence uses the idiom correctly to comfort someone after a breakup?

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