Vocapedia
Log inTry for Free

Looking up...

Explore

  • Words of the Year
  • Recent Lookups
  • Community Collections
  • How to Say

Dictionaries

  • English
  • Vietnamese
  • Japanese
  • Chinese
  • Spanish
  • French
  • Korean
  • German
  • Hindi
  • Italian

MY LEARNING

  • My Dictionary
  • My Collections
  • Reviews

Resources

  • Learning Resources
  • How It Works
  • Study Guides
  • Language Tips
  • FAQ
  • Getting Started
  • For Individuals
  • For Teachers

Community

  • Forum
  • Blog
  • Help Center
  • Partnerships

About

  • About Vocapedia
  • Contact Us
  • Feedback

Legal

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Accessibility
  • GDPR Compliance
© 2026 Vocapedia. All rights reserved.
  1. Home /
  2. Dictionaries /
  3. English Dictionary /
  4. compare like with like

compare like with like

/kəmˈpeər laɪk wɪð laɪk/
compare similar things to each other

To fairly assess the two products, you should compare like with like.

This means evaluating them based on similar features or criteria.


formal

To compare things that are similar in nature or category to ensure a fair and accurate assessment.

When analyzing the financial performance of two companies, it's important to compare like with like.

This means comparing companies of similar size, industry, and market conditions.

In a scientific study, researchers must compare like with like to avoid biased results.

This ensures that the variables being tested are as similar as possible.

This phrase emphasizes the importance of fairness and accuracy in comparisons by ensuring that the items being compared are comparable.

Synonyms

compare apples to applesmake a fair comparison

Antonyms

compare apples to oranges

Related Phrases

compare apples to orangesphrase
to compare things that are not similar, leading to an unfair or misleading comparison

Pro Tip

Usage Tip

Use this phrase when you want to emphasize that a comparison is fair and accurate by ensuring the items being compared are similar.

Gold Rule

Fair Comparison Rule

Always ensure that the items you are comparing are similar in nature or category to avoid misleading results.

Word Origin

The phrase originates from the idea of comparing similar things to avoid unfair or misleading comparisons. It is commonly used in formal and analytical contexts.

Usage Notes

This phrase is often used in business, science, and academic settings to emphasize the need for fair and accurate comparisons.

English Dictionary
Browse more English→English words →

Learning Progress

Track your learning journey!

• Save words to build your vocabulary

• Monitor your daily streak

• Get personalized review reminders

• See words learned statistics

Log in to access advanced features and track your progress!

Go to Dashboard →

Words of the Year

The most notable words that defined each year. Discover the vocabulary that shaped our world.