Meaning: A person who feels awkward or out of place in a situation.
Hindi: असहज व्यक्ति
Synonyms: misfit, outsider
Antonyms: at home, comfortable
Asked in: SSC Selection Post Ph-14 2026 (Higher Secondary Level) · SSC CGL 2024 T-1 · SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 · SSC MTS 2024 · SSC CHSL 2022 T-1 · SSC GD 2022 T-1 · SSC Selection Post Ph-10 2022 ML · SSC CGL 2020 T-1 · SSC CGL 2019 T-2
fish out of water in SSC previous-year questions
- SSC CGL 2024 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the following sentence.
In my new office, all employees were different, so I felt like a fish out of water.Answer & explanation
Answer: D) Uncomfortable
Correct Answer: Uncomfortable
Explanation: The idiom "a fish out of water" means feeling uncomfortable or out of place in an unfamiliar situation, as a fish would be out of its natural habitat in water. - SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
Fish out of water
(SSC CHSL 2024 T-1 (08-July Shift 1))Answer & explanation
Answer: B) To be out of place
Correct Answer: To be out of place
Explanation:
The idiom "Fish out of water" means:
• A person who feels uncomfortable or awkward in a particular situation because it is unfamiliar or unsuitable to them — just like a fish feels when taken out of water.
Let’s examine the options:
• To die soon – ❌ Incorrect; not related to the idiom.
• To be out of place – ✅ Correct; it captures the true meaning.
• No knowledge of marine life – ❌ Irrelevant to the idiom.
• Not good at swimming – ❌ Literal interpretation, not idiomatic.
✅ Hence, the correct meaning is "To be out of place". - SSC MTS 2024 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate idiom that can substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence.
The new employee is really trying to fit in, but sometimes he feels out of place and uncomfortable.Answer & explanation
Answer: A) a fish out of water
Answer: a fish out of water
Explanation:
The idiom "a fish out of water" means someone who feels uncomfortable or out of place in a situation.
(Hindi: असहज या अनजान स्थिति में होना)
Other options:
• A diamond in the rough – a person with potential but unpolished.
• A bird of a feather – refers to people with similar interests.
• A needle in a haystack – something very hard to find.
Hence, "a fish out of water" is the most appropriate idiom to substitute the underlined segment. - SSC Selection Post Ph-14 2026 (Higher Secondary Level) Idioms & Phrases
In the following sentence, out of the four alternatives, choose the one which gives the correct meaning of the underlined idiom or phrase.
The poet felt like a fish out of water when he was forced to attend the noisy corporate gala.Answer & explanation
Answer: D) A person in a strange, awkward situation
Meaning: a fish out of water = a person who feels uncomfortable because he is in an unfamiliar, unsuitable situation *(अनजान माहौल में असहज व्यक्ति)*.
Read the sentence.
A poet — a quiet, reflective person — "forced to attend the noisy corporate gala": the setting does not suit him, so he feels awkward.
Origin.
A fish taken out of water flaps helplessly — it is out of its natural element *(स्वाभाविक परिवेश)*.
Why the others are wrong.
#B A person who is very thirsty or tired *(बहुत प्यासा या थका हुआ)* — the idiom is about the setting, not the body; tired = dog-tired.
#B A person who loves swimming and diving *(तैराकी-प्रेमी)* — a literal misreading of *fish* and *water*; being naturally a - SSC CGL 2019 T-2 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence.
She felt l̲i̲k̲e̲ ̲a̲ ̲f̲i̲s̲h̲ ̲o̲u̲t̲ ̲o̲f̲ ̲w̲a̲t̲e̲r̲ at her new job.Answer & explanation
Answer: A) uncomfortable and restless
✅ Correct Answer: Option A (uncomfortable and restless)
Type: Idiom
"like a fish out of water" = feeling uncomfortable/out of place in unfamiliar surroundings (असहज महसूस करना).
Why the others are wrong
• angry and hurt / comfortable and relaxed / happy and free – opposite or unrelated. - SSC CGL 2020 T-1 Idioms & Phrases
Select the most appropriate meaning of the following idiom.
A fish out of waterAnswer & explanation
Answer: B) Feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings
Answer: Feel uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings
Solution:
• The idiom "a fish out of water" means feeling awkward, uncomfortable, or out of place in a situation that is unfamiliar or not natural to you.
• Just like a fish struggles outside water, a person in an unfamiliar environment may feel lost or uneasy.
Why the other options are incorrect:
• Feel comfortable in any kind of place – opposite in meaning.
• Feel like going to an unfamiliar and new place – unrelated; the idiom is about discomfort in such a place, not desire to go there.
• Feel as if you are unable to breathe – too literal; not the idiomatic meaning.
Examples
- “At the formal party, he felt like a fish out of water.”
fish out of water – questions
What is the meaning of fish out of water in Hindi?
fish out of water means “असहज व्यक्ति” in Hindi. In English: A person who feels awkward or out of place in a situation.
What are the synonyms of fish out of water?
Synonyms of fish out of water: misfit, outsider.
What is the opposite of fish out of water?
Antonyms of fish out of water: at home, comfortable.
Has fish out of water been asked in SSC exams?
Yes – fish out of water has been asked 9 times in SSC exams: SSC Selection Post Ph-14 2026 (Higher Secondary Level), SSC CGL 2024 T-1, SSC CHSL 2024 T-1, SSC MTS 2024, SSC CHSL 2022 T-1, SSC GD 2022 T-1, SSC Selection Post Ph-10 2022 ML, SSC CGL 2020 T-1 and more.