cry stinking fish

English

Etymology

From cry in the sense of offering wares for sale.

Verb

cry stinking fish (third-person singular simple present cries stinking fish, present participle crying stinking fish, simple past and past participle cried stinking fish)

1. (UK) To disparage oneself; to say things that make oneself look bad.

   Synonym: sell oneself short

References

• “cry stinking fish”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.