1660 Bp. J. Taylor II. iv. i. 510 Does ever any man cry stinking fish to be sold?
1825 L. L. Cameron Crooked Paths in I. xxv. 5 ‘Sir,’ answered the woman, looking wise, ‘nobody cries stinking fish.’
1844 W. M. Thackeray Barry Lyndon i. iv, in Feb. 197/1 This was not true; but what is the use of crying bad fish?