feed the fish—(U.S. sl.) be sea-sick; vomit:
- I opened the hatch, stepped out and then I knew I was going to feed the fish.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase feed the goldfish—(euph.) leave the company to go to the toilet:
- The variations on these expressions are endless and include: go and feed a dog, go and feed the goldfish…
feed the fishes—
1. (UK) be drowned (also: be food for fishes):
- They found the boat but they didn’t find him. So he must be feeding the fishes.
2. = feed the fish:
- The sea never affects me, but my unfortunate brother spent most of his time feeding the fishes.