neither fish nor fowl

N

neither fish nor fowl (idiom)
/ˈnaɪðər fɪʃ nɔr faʊl/

Meaning

• Something that is difficult to classify and doesn’t fit into a clear group.
• Lacking a distinct nature, making it hard to identify what it is.
• Not clearly one thing or the other; having a mixed or uncertain nature.
• An entity that seems out of place because it doesn’t align with any established category.

Synonyms: indeterminate; unclassifiable; ambiguous; incongruous; undefined.

Example Sentences

1. The new company’s business model is neither fish nor fowl, making it hard to classify.
2. His unique art style is neither fish nor fowl, as it borrows from many different genres.
3. The building’s design is neither fish nor fowl, blending modern and traditional elements.
4. His outfit was neither fish nor fowl, making him look out of place at the formal event.

Origin and History

The phrase “neither fish nor fowl” is an idiom meaning something that is difficult to categorize. Its origins are linked to historical rules of fasting and abstinence in English history, particularly those concerning the classification of food in religious practices.

The Ecclesiastical Theory

This theory suggests the phrase originated from the division of food categories within the Christian church for fasting and abstinence days. In medieval times, certain days, particularly during Lent and every Friday, required believers to abstain from eating “flesh.” This meant avoiding the meat of land animals. To make it clear what was and was not allowed, food was divided into three main categories:

• Fish: This included aquatic animals, which were permitted on fast days.
• Flesh: This referred to land animals, which were forbidden.
• Fowl: This meant birds, whose classification was sometimes ambiguous but were generally considered “flesh.”

The phrase came to be used to describe something that didn’t fit neatly into any of these categories, making it “neither fish nor fowl.” This is the most widely accepted theory for the origin of the phrase.

A Theory of Social Class

Another belief connects the phrase to social class distinctions in medieval England. This version of the phrase is sometimes extended to include “neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring.” According to this idea, the three types of food were associated with different social classes:

• Fish: Reserved for the clergy, who had to abstain from meat on certain days.
• Flesh: For the common people, who ate meat when they could.
• Red herring: A cheap, salted fish that was a staple for the poor.

In this context, if something was “neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring,” it meant it was not suitable for anyone, from the highest clergy to the lowest poor. This theory, while slightly different, still connects the phrase to the categorization of food and social roles.

A Satirical Origin

The earliest known printed record of the term appears in the 1528 satire, “Rede me and be nott wrothe for I saye no thynge but trothe” by William Roy and Jerome Barlow. In the text, a character is described as “Wone that is nether flesshe nor fisshe,” which is a variant of the phrase. This usage was a criticism of a clergyman who was seen as having an uncertain or contradictory character, highlighting the phrase’s early use to describe a person who was hard to pin down.

The Origin Country

The phrase originated in England. All of the primary theories and the earliest known printed records are from English sources, dating back to the 16th century. It is a product of English language and culture, specifically from the time of the Reformation and the social structures of the period.

The Earliest Printed Record

The earliest printed record of a variant of the phrase “neither fish nor fowl” is from a 1528 satire titled “Rede me and be nott wrothe for I saye no thynge but trothe,” written by William Roy and Jerome Barlow. The specific line in which the phrase appears is “Wone that is nether flesshe nor fisshe.” This early use of the idiom was a criticism of a clergyman, describing him as having a contradictory and ambiguous character that didn’t fit into a clear category.

Bird, Fish, Food