📚 No Accounting for Tastes: And Other Peculiar Preferences 🤷🍕🍍
no accounting for tastes, there is no – A colorful and time-tested way to say, “To each their own!” This idiom goes way back to the sixteenth century when people used to say, “there is no disputing about tastes.” By the early nineteenth century, the phrase took its modern form. You can find it popping up in literary classics like Anthony Trollope’s The Last Chronicle of Barset (1867), where Major Grantly exemplifies it as a suitor who couldn’t quite justify his peculiar inclinations.
Similar Terms & Expressions:
- Different strokes for different folks – What works for one person might not work for another. This phrase emerged from American regional slang and gained popularity throughout the mid-twentieth century.
- One man’s meat is another’s poison – This wise nugget has its roots in Roman times and asserts that something beneficial to one person might be harmful to another.
- To each his own – A simple yet profound recognition that everyone has their own unique preferences.
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – Another classic expression denoting that what one person finds pleasing or beautiful may not hold the same appeal to another.
- You can’t judge a book by its cover – A gentle reminder to not make judgments based solely on outward appearances.
Related Proverbs & Wisdom:
- “Different folks have different strokes.”
- “Variety is the spice of life.”
- “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
Humor-filled Quotes:
- “Never yuck someone’s yum.” – Anonymous food lover.
- “We’re all weird. Some of us just hide it better than others.” – Michelle Hodkin
Recommended Reads and Inspirations:
- Books:
- The Comfort of Strangers by Ian McEwan – A novel exploring different, sometimes unsettling, preferences in relationships.
- The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams – The ultimate guide for delighting in odd preferences from across the universe.
- Poetry:
- Ode to Nonsense by Edward Lear – Embracing the beautifully inexplicable.
Suggestive Media:
- Movies:
- Forrest Gump – Emphasizes the unique and valuable perspectives everyone brings to life.
- Songs:
- “My Way” by Frank Sinatra – A musical salute to individuality.
Quizzes to Test Your Knowledge and Wits!
### Which of these expressions means the same as ‘No accounting for tastes’?
- [ ] Dancing with pineapples
- [x] Different strokes for different folks
- [ ] Brushing teeth with marshmallows
- [ ] Painting with polka dots
> **Explanation:** "Different strokes for different folks" acknowledges that individual preferences vary widely and can’t be comprehensively explained.
### True or False: 'One man’s meat is another’s poison' is synonymous with 'No accounting for tastes.'
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** It's true! Both expressions convey the idea that what is good or pleasing to one person might be unappealing or bad for another.
### Match the phrase with its meaning:
1. Different strokes for different folks
2. You can't judge a book by its cover
3. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
- [ ] Outward appearances can be deceptive (2)
- [ ] Personal attractiveness is subjective (3)
- [ ] Different people have different preferences (1)
> **Explanation:** Each numbered phrase has a specific meaningful pair:
1. Different preferences
2. Don't trust appearances alone
3. Subjective beauty.
### 🎭 Is 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' an older or newer saying compared to 'Different strokes for different folks'?
- [x] Older
- [ ] Newer
> **Explanation:** 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' is much older, with origins dating back to ancient Greek times, whereas 'Different strokes for different folks' is a more modern American idiom from the mid-20th century.
### Which of these represents a proverb of similar meaning?
- [ ] Penny for your thoughts
- [x] One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
- [ ] Bite off more than you can chew
- [ ] Cat got your tongue
> **Explanation:** "One man’s trash is another man’s treasure" aligns closely with "No accounting for tastes," as both point out the subjective nature of value and preference.
Lexicon L. Verace once said, “If everyone enjoyed the same things, imagine how boring the world would be. Embrace the oddities and the preferences that make you, you!”
Published: 2023-10-12
Happy idiom-ing, Lexi Wordsmith
