weder Fisch noch Fleisch

Meaning

1. neither fish nor fowl, neither fish nor flesh (something difficult to categorise)
2. something half-baked, lacking resolution or determination

Concepts

neither fish nor fowl

Synonyms

unbestimmt

nicht Fisch

nicht Fleisch

uneindeutig

weder das eine noch das andere

nicht klar zuzuordnen

nicht einzuordnen

nicht zu bestimmen

Translations

né carne né pesce

ni chicha ni limonada

ni carn ni peix

ni carne ni pescado

ni chair ni poisson

homō nūllīus colōris

vlees noch vis

nem carne nem peixe

sin pies ni cabeza

mi-figue mi-raisin

mi figue mi raisin

Etymology

Cognate with Dutch: vlees noch vis

Cognate with French: ni chair ni poisson

Cognate with Polish: ni pies, ni wydra

Cognate with Russian: ни рыба ни мясо

In summary

Literally, “neither fish nor meat”. Compare with Dutch vlees noch vis, French ni chair ni poisson, Polish ni pies, ni wydra, Russian ни рыба ни мясо (ni ryba ni mjaso), and so on. Perhaps from the context of fasting (on Fridays and during Lent), where fish was allowed, but other meats were not. Or from the notion that dishes containing neither of these ingredients are not “proper” food.