Bigger fish to fry

Meaning

More important things to deal with.

Usage

Used to deprioritize trivial matters.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Cooking metaphor referencing fish in a pan.

Used since the 19th century in American and British speech.