Fig.: said of someone who feels uncomfortable in unfamiliar situations or surroundings; being somewhere you don't belong. To feel out of place

My husband is very good around the house, but in the kitchen he's like a fish out of water: he doesn't know which way to turn even to boil an egg

Mio marito si arrangia benissimo in casa, ma quando è in cucina è come un pesce fuor d'acqua: non sa da che parte cominciare nemmeno per far bollire un uovo

Fred is a hands-on guy so when he's around IT people he's just a fish out of water

Fred è un ragazzo molto pratico e quando è in compagnia di esperti informatici si sente come un pesce fuor d'acqua

I've been invited to the opening of the Teatro alla Scala, but I'm not sure I will accept because I would feel like a fish out of water. First of all, I know nothing about opera and, secondly, I would feel totally out-of-place in that environment

Mi hanno invitato alla prima della Scala, ma non so se accetterò perché sarei assolutamente un pesce fuor d'acqua. Primo, non so niente di musica lirica e, secondo, non è il mio ambiente e mi sentirei completamente fuori post

It's evident that a fish out of water is clearly and painfully out of place, since fish cannot breathe out of water.This expression appeared in 1483 in The Canterbury Tales (1483) by Geoffrey Chaucer, where it was used to describe one of the characters who did not feel comfortable riding a horse. This part reads:…a huge man, uncouth; a master of vessel and knew all the ports; not ride well; like a fish out of water as sat on his horse.