Has Bigger Fish to Fry – अधिक महत्वपूर्ण काम होना Meaning & Explanation

The idiom “Has bigger fish to fry” is used to indicate that someone has more important matters or priorities to deal with, often in comparison to a current or trivial issue. It’s a way of expressing that the person’s attention or focus is required elsewhere on something more significant. It is commonly used when someone doesn’t want to waste time on minor tasks or distractions and wants to focus on bigger goals.

Used when someone has more important tasks to attend to
Indicates a shift in focus from small, less important matters to bigger issues
Suggests prioritization of significant responsibilities over trivial ones

Hindi Equivalent:
“अधिक महत्वपूर्ण काम होना”
(जब कोई व्यक्ति कहता है कि उसके पास बड़ा या ज्यादा जरूरी काम है, तो वह इस वाक्यांश का उपयोग करता है।)

Detailed Explanation
This idiom highlights the need for prioritizing important tasks over less significant ones. The phrase “fish to fry” comes from the idea that someone who is already cooking or working on something substantial, would not bother with smaller, less rewarding tasks. It’s often used in situations where someone is attempting to deflect attention from something that doesn’t matter as much to them.

Prioritization: It emphasizes the need to focus on significant matters.
Delegation: Sometimes it can suggest that the person wants to delegate smaller tasks to someone else.
Shift of Focus: It implies that the individual has more pressing matters to address and does not want to waste time on trivial issues.

Common contexts:

• In a work environment when someone is asked to handle something that isn’t a priority for them.
• When dealing with personal matters and deflecting smaller issues to focus on the bigger ones.
• In situations where someone doesn’t want to engage in a debate or conflict because they have more important concerns.

Real-Life Examples

In School
English: “I know you’re asking for help with your homework, but I have bigger fish to fry right now with my project.”
English Response: “Oh, I understand, good luck with your project!”
Hindi: “मुझे पता है कि तुम होमवर्क में मदद मांग रहे हो, लेकिन मुझे अभी अपने प्रोजेक्ट के साथ अधिक महत्वपूर्ण काम करना है।”
Hindi Response: “ठीक है, तुम्हारे प्रोजेक्ट के लिए शुभकामनाएँ!”

In a Family Situation
English: “I appreciate your concern about my schedule, but I’ve got bigger fish to fry, like meeting my deadlines.”
English Response: “Got it, I’ll handle this!”
Hindi: “मैं आपके शेड्यूल को लेकर चिंता की सराहना करता हूँ, लेकिन मुझे अपनी डेडलाइनों को पूरा करने जैसे अधिक महत्वपूर्ण काम हैं।”
Hindi Response: “समझ गया, मैं इसे संभाल लूंगा!”

In a Work Situation
English: “I can’t attend that meeting right now. I’ve got bigger fish to fry, like the budget report!”
English Response: “No worries, I’ll handle the meeting for you.”
Hindi: “मैं अभी उस मीटिंग में नहीं जा सकता। मेरे पास बजट रिपोर्ट जैसे अधिक महत्वपूर्ण काम हैं।”
Hindi Response: “कोई बात नहीं, मैं मीटिंग संभाल लूंगा।”

Psychological & Social Insight

Why This Phrase Matters:
✓ Helps in Focus: It encourages focusing on what’s important and avoiding distractions.
✓ Promotes Efficiency: Prioritizing bigger tasks leads to more efficient time management.
✓ Reduces Stress: When you can focus on the bigger picture, it reduces stress from dealing with unnecessary details.

When to Use This Phrase:
When you are asked to do something that isn’t important in comparison to your current tasks.
When you need to explain why you can’t focus on something trivial.
When you want to redirect attention to more pressing matters.

Usage Tips
Use this idiom to tactfully decline tasks or distractions that aren’t a priority.
It’s ideal in both professional and casual settings, when you need to convey that your attention is needed elsewhere.
Try not to overuse it, as it may come off as dismissive if used too frequently.

Similar Expressions

English	Hindi
“I have more important things to do.”	“मेरे पास ज्यादा महत्वपूर्ण काम हैं।”
“I have my hands full.”	“मेरे पास काम का बोझ है।”
“I’m occupied with bigger tasks.”	“मैं बड़े कामों में व्यस्त हूँ।”
“That’s not my priority right now.”	“यह अभी मेरी प्राथमिकता नहीं है।”

Cultural Perspectives
Western View: In Western cultures, this phrase is often used in work settings to politely excuse oneself from trivial matters. It’s a way of setting boundaries and focusing on more pressing concerns.
Indian Context: In India, similar expressions are used when individuals want to focus on their primary responsibilities, particularly in professional environments where prioritization is key.
Global Relevance: The idea of focusing on important tasks over trivial ones is universal, and the idiom is understood in various cultures to denote responsibility and time management.

Reflection Questions:

• Do you find yourself often distracted by small, unimportant tasks?
• How do you prioritize your tasks and manage your time effectively?
• Have you ever had to explain to someone that you had “bigger fish to fry”? How did you phrase it?