How do you use "Like a fish out of water" in a sentence?

At the opera, I felt like a fish out of water. He was a fish out of water in the corporate world. Don't leave her—she'll be a fish out of water.

Like a fish out of water

Q: What does "Like a fish out of water" mean?

Completely uncomfortable; out of one's element. Being 'like a fish out of water' means being completely out of your comfort zone—struggling in an unfamiliar environment, just as a fish struggles without water.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: Completely uncomfortable; out of one's element.

完全不自在；格格不入。

Completamente incómodo; fuera de su elemento.

完全に居心地が悪い。場違いな。

완전히 어색한, 자기 분야가 아닌 곳에 있는.

Being 'like a fish out of water' means being completely out of your comfort zone—struggling in an unfamiliar environment, just as a fish struggles without water.

'like a fish out of water（像离开水的鱼）'意味着完全不在自己的舒适区——在陌生的环境中感到不适，就像鱼离开水一样挣扎。

Estar 'like a fish out of water' (como un pez fuera del agua) significa estar completamente fuera de tu zona de confort, luchando en un entorno desconocido, igual que un pez lucha sin agua.

「like a fish out of water（水から出た魚のように）」は、完全に自分の居場所から外れている状態——魚が水なしでもがくように、慣れない環境で苦労することです。

'Like a fish out of water'는 완전히 자기 영역 밖에 있다는 뜻으로, 물 없이 허덕이는 물고기처럼 낯선 환경에서 고군분투하는 상태를 표현합니다.

Examples

At the opera, I felt like a fish out of water.
在歌剧院里，我感觉格格不入。
En la ópera me sentí como un pez fuera del agua.
オペラでは完全に場違いだった。
오페라에서 나는 완전히 물 밖에 나온 물고기 같았다.
He was a fish out of water in the corporate world.
他在企业界完全格格不入。
Estaba como pez fuera del agua en el mundo empresarial.
彼は企業社会では場違いだった。
그는 기업 세계에서 완전히 어울리지 않았다.
Don't leave her—she'll be a fish out of water.
别丢下她——她会完全不知所措的。
No la dejes sola: estará como pez fuera del agua.
彼女を置いていかないで——場違いで困るから。
그녀를 혼자 두지 마——완전히 어색해할 거야.

Pronunciation

/laɪk ə fɪʃ aʊt əv ˈwɔːtə/

Usage Guide

Context: discomfort, unfamiliarity, environment

Tone: sympathetic, descriptive

✓ Do Say

Like a fish out of water
如鱼离水
como pez fuera del agua
水から出た魚のように
물 밖에 나온 물고기처럼
Fish out of water
格格不入的人
pez fuera del agua
場違いな人
어울리지 않는 사람

Common Mistakes

About discomfort in unfamiliar situations

Origin & History

The image of a fish unable to survive outside water dates back centuries. It perfectly captures the discomfort of being in an alien environment.

Etymology: Fish require water = being in wrong environment

First recorded: 14th century

Cultural Context

Era: 14th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Universal expression

Regional notes: English-language universal.

Variations

Like a fish out of waterFish out of water