Fish out of water

Meaning

Feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar situation.

Usage

Describes awkwardness outside one’s comfort zone.

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.

A literal image of a fish struggling outside water; Chaucer used it about a monk out of his cloister.

In English since the 14th century.