There are plenty more fish in the sea.
Is this something you would say to a person who was concerned about marine population? Would this cliché be appropriate in a discussion about the declining numbers of certain species of fish and the disastrous effects that decline is having on the ecosystem? Are there really, literally, plenty more fish in the sea? The answer to that question has been “no” for nearly a century.
So yes, we might bring up this old saying and dispute it for the sake of an argument about sustainable seafood. But, usually, when we say, “There are many more fish in the sea,” we are not speaking of marine life. Usually, we are attempting to comfort some poor soul who has just experienced a traumatic parting of the ways. We are assuring that person that there are many other people out there with whom they can form a relationship. “Don’t be sad because that one got away,” we say. “There are others out there just ripe for the catching.” My grandmother told me that when I was nineteen and experiencing my first break-up. Friends have assured me about that sea full of fish for as long as I can remember. But, as of this writing, my creel (that’s a wicker basket used for carrying fish) is empty. Either I just have no aptitude for fishing or the sea isn’t as full of fish as people would have us believe.
What’s after reading “Plenty More Fish in the Sea?”
Check out Dr. Carolyn Lee’s blogs on her website, she features a new cliché each week or you can order her new book, Keep Your Eye on the Ball And Other Clichès to Live By. Curious about the author? Read more about Carolyn here. We hope you enjoyed this article learning more about this cliché.
