Each to his or her own preference: This phrase epitomizes the age-old enigma of why people have distinct likes and dislikes. It originated in the sixteenth century as “there is no disputing about tastes” and evolved into “accounting for” by the early nineteeth century. Anthony Trollope in his novel, the last of his Barset Chronicles (1867), gave life to this phrase with the line, “There was . . . no accounting for tastes,” referring to Major Grantly as a suitor. Similarly, the mid-twentieth-century saw the birth of “different strokes for different folks,” highlighting that everyone has their own way of doing things. This term emerged from American regional slang and is hurdling towards clichédom. All these are interchangeable with the ancient proverb, “One man’s meat is another’s poison,” dating back to Roman times and widely used since about 1700. And, let’s not forget the evergreen essentially equivalent, “To each his own.”
Related and Similar Terms:
- To each his own: Accepting individual preferences without judgment.
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder: Personal taste in aesthetics varies.
- Variety is the spice of life: Diversity enriches our experiences.
- What floats your boat: Whatever makes one happy.
- Different strokes for different folks: People have varying approaches and tastes.
Synonyms:
- Personal preference
- Individual taste
Antonyms:
- One-size-fits-all
- Uniformity
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “It’s no use disputing tastes; after all, I got stuck wearing plaid pants in the 70s!” – Anonymous Gagster
- “Just remember, there’s no accounting for taste… or fashion sense.” – T. Shirt
Proverbs:
- “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.” — Roman Origin, circa 1700
- “Birds of a feather flock together.” — Illustrates similar interests finding common ground.
References:
- Books: “The Barset Chronicles” by Anthony Trollope.
- Movies: “Forrest Gump” — “Different strokes for different folks.”
- Poetry: “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann — Embracing individual paths.
- Songs: “Different Strokes” by Syl Johnson.
Quizzes About Preferences and Clichés
Quincy Q. Quipster, Rafting the Rivers of Language - Until Next Cliche! 🚣♂️💬 “Remember, embrace diversity—it’s the quirks and differences that color our world brilliantly.” 🌍✨
