compare apples and oranges

/kəmˈpɛər ˈæpəlz ænd ˈɔrɪndʒɪz/◆idiom

compare unrelated things

You can't compare apples and oranges—one is a fruit, and the other is a vegetable!

This means you're trying to compare two things that are fundamentally different and cannot be meaningfully compared.

◆ What It Really Means

To highlight the absurdity of comparing two things that are inherently different and cannot be meaningfully contrasted.

¶ Literal Meaning

To literally compare the fruit apples to the fruit oranges.

Literal Breakdown

compareto examine the similarities or differences+applesa round fruit with red, green, or yellow skin and crisp white flesh+anda conjunction indicating addition+orangesa round citrus fruit with a tough bright orange skin and juicy segmented flesh

◇ Mental Image

The mental picture evoked is one of trying to compare two fruits that are visually distinct, have different textures, and taste completely different. It's like trying to compare a sweet, crunchy apple to a juicy, tangy orange—both are fruits, but they are so different that any comparison feels forced or nonsensical.

◈ When to Use

Imagine a debate where someone argues that a librarian's salary should be compared to a software engineer's salary because both jobs require education. A listener might interject, 'You can't compare apples and oranges—they require entirely different skills and market demands.'

◉ Cultural Note

The phrase reflects the common cultural understanding in English-speaking countries that apples and oranges are both fruits but are not easily interchangeable in taste or use. It has been used metaphorically since at least the early 1900s, appearing in various forms in literature and speech.

informal

To compare things that are fundamentally different and cannot be meaningfully contrasted.

Comparing the salary of a teacher to that of a CEO is like comparing apples and oranges.

Both are professions, but their value systems and responsibilities are so different that a direct comparison is meaningless.

Don't compare your cooking skills to a professional chef's—it's apples and oranges.

Your skills and a chef's skills operate in entirely different contexts and standards.

Often used to dismiss an unfair or irrelevant comparison. The phrase highlights the absurdity of comparing items from entirely different categories.

Collocations

like comparing apples and orangesused to emphasize the futility of comparing unrelated things

to compare things that are similar or equivalent

compare pears to orangesidiom

to compare two things that are fundamentally different

apples and orangesphrase

two things that are fundamentally different

Pro Tip

When to use this idiom

Use this idiom when someone is trying to compare two things that are so different that the comparison doesn't make sense. It's a polite way to say, 'That comparison isn't valid.'

Gold Rule

Avoid literal comparisons

Never use this idiom to describe actual comparisons of fruits. It only applies to metaphorical or irrelevant comparisons in discussions.

Word Origin

The phrase dates back to at least the early 20th century, with roots in the idea that apples and oranges are both fruits but differ significantly in taste, texture, and culinary use. The metaphor likely emerged from the common observation that these two fruits are not easily interchangeable in recipes or preferences.

Usage Notes

This idiom is used to criticize or dismiss a comparison that the speaker believes is invalid or misleading. It is particularly common in discussions about salaries, skills, or qualities where direct comparison is tempting but ultimately unproductive.

Word Breakdown

compare

to examine the similarities or differences between two things

verb

apples

a type of fruit with a sweet or tart flavor

noun

and

a conjunction used to connect words or phrases

conjunction

oranges

a type of citrus fruit with a sweet or sour flavor

noun

English Dictionary

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