have other fish to fry

have other fish to fry (third-person singular simple present has other fish to fry, present participle having other fish to fry, simple past and past participle had other fish to fry)

1. (idiomatic) To have more important things to do.
   • c. 1710, The Journal to Stella, Jonathan Swift, ch. 2, Letter 15:

     I have other fish to fry; so good-morrow, my ladies all, good-morrow.

   • 1849, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], chapter 20, in Shirley. A Tale. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC:

     Your uncle will not return yet; he has other fish to fry; he will be galloping backwards and forwards from Briarfield to Stilbro' all day.

   • 1905, George Bernard Shaw, chapter 15, in The Irrational Knot:

     "May I ask whether you will be persuaded to come?"
     "No, for certain. I have other fish to fry here."

• another kettle of fish