B2idiominformalfoodIELTS-friendly
apples and oranges
USUK
two things so different that comparing them is not fair or useful
Mainly American but understood everywhere. Usually 'compare apples and oranges' or 'It's apples and oranges'. British English also has 'like chalk and cheese'.
In context
Comparing life in Hanoi and life in a village is comparing apples and oranges.
You can't compare a phone and a laptop on price; it's apples and oranges.
More idioms about food
- a bad appleone bad person who has a bad effect on the rest of a group
- a couch potatoa person who spends a lot of time sitting and watching TV instead of being active
- a different kettle of fisha completely different situation from the one just mentioned
- a finger in every pieinvolved in many different activities, often to get power
- a meal ticketa person or thing that someone uses as a source of money or support