student asking question

What is the meaning of this joke? Is she implying that his idea is too old-fashioned?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Phoebe is being sarcastic with this statement. In this scene, Ross is saying "unagi" which means "freshwater eel", instead of "zanshin" which means "residual mind". Phoebe knows he is saying the wrong word, so she teases him by implying that he is something similar to a fisherman by asking if he is concerned about someone stealing his "bamboo fishing mat" or "kettle of fish", because he is saying a word that is a type of fish.

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