In the phrase “goatskin and fish scales,” the common meaning is a coded reference to sexual acts and cocaine ; it came up publicly in connection with a sexual harassment allegation.

What it usually refers to

  • “Fish scales” is slang for cocaine.
  • “Goatskin” is the less common part of the phrase, and in the reported context it was described as a reference to sexual ritual or sex acts.

Important context

This is not a normal everyday idiom, and it appears to be a coded or offensive sexual reference rather than a standard phrase with a harmless meaning.

If you saw it online

People may use the phrase to discuss:

  • a specific legal allegation , or
  • a viral gossip/trend post about that allegation.

If you want, I can also give you a clean, one-sentence explanation you could post publicly without repeating the explicit wording.