kettle of fish (noun)

1. In the climax of the novel, the protagonist finds himself in a real kettle of fish as he tries to escape the villain's lair.

2. In Greek mythology, Odysseus found himself in a kettle of fish when he encountered the sirens and had to resist their enchanting song.

3. The romantic comedy movie portrays a couple who constantly find themselves in a kettle of fish, creating comedic and challenging situations for their relationship.

4. The Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 was a major kettle of fish, as the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war between the United States and Soviet Union.