What Does “A Troubling of Goldfish” Mean?
“Troubling” sounds ominous for such a docile fish, and the exact reasoning behind the word is genuinely unclear; it may simply be old English wordplay, pairing an unexpected, faintly dramatic word with an animal known for being anything but dramatic.
Goldfish are peaceful, social fish that generally do best in groups, so if there’s any “trouble” involved, it’s more likely to be the trouble they cause their owners: goldfish are notoriously messy eaters and produce a surprising amount of waste for their size.
Example: “A troubling of goldfish circled the tank at feeding time, hardly living up to their unsettling collective name.”
Other Collective Nouns for Goldfish
Goldfish are also known as a glint. Browse the complete Collective Nouns for Fish list.
A Few Goldfish Facts
- Goldfish are a domesticated form of a small wild carp, not a naturally occurring wild species.
- They lack a true stomach, which is part of why they seem to eat constantly.
- Some ornamental goldfish varieties, like the bubble eye or celestial eye, look almost nothing like the classic orange goldfish shape.
Nothing to See Here…
Whatever “troubling” was supposed to mean, generations of goldfish have done nothing to earn the reputation.