Apples and Oranges: And Other Analogous Oddities
Why Compare Thy Apples to Oranges? 🤔
“Comparing apples to oranges” has become the go-to cliché for describing an attempt to compare two fundamentally different things. This phrase, gaining traction from the second half of the 20th century, has truly caught on as an emblematic symbol of incomparable comparison—despite both being fruits! It’s replaced the older adage “the difference between chalk and cheese,” beloved in the 1500s but now rather passé, especially in America.
An in-depth exploration reveals why we don’t compare, say “sneakers to sandwiches” or “daisies to dogs.” Perhaps the choice of apples and oranges stems from their inherent differences that become startlingly apparent when juxtaposed (just scratch and sniff, literally!).
Synonyms & Related Expressions:
- Chalk and Cheese: An old-world term meaning stark contrast, dating back to the 1500s.
- Day and Night: Another classic paradigm of clear disparity.
- Oil and Water: A scientific analogy stressing immiscibility, representing irreconcilable differences.
Antonyms:
- Two Peas in a Pod: Opposite of apples to oranges; describes close similarity or inseparables.
- Like Clockwork: Implying synchronous or orderly movement in sync, the reverse of disparate comparison.
Thought-Provoking Quote:
“Comparing apples and oranges may become a fruitful discussion 🍎🍊.” - Anonymous
Literature, Music, and Movie References:
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Books:
- Comparative Fruitology by Imagined Intriguities – A tongue-in-cheek exploration into the metaphorical roles of fruits in linguistics.
- Similarities Hidden in Differences by Phyllis T. Perseption – An analytical guide on embracing differences.
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Music:
- “Apples and Oranges” by Pink Floyd – A psychedelic track perfectly suited for pondering such comparisons.
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Movies:
- The Odd Couple – While not directly about apples and oranges, this classic film beautifully encapsulates the essence of comparing contrasts.
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Poetry:
- Consider Pablo Neruda’s poem, Ode to Common Things as an exquisite ode to the beauty found in the everyday and disparate.
Quizzes:
Thanks for journeying through the wonderland of clichés. May your comparisons be ever justified and your metaphors forever fruit-filled!
Inspirational Thought: “Remember, the joy in words is like finding oranges in an apple orchard—strange but wonderfully surprising.”
Author: W. T. Wittywords | Published: 2023-10-01
