apples and oranges
A comparison of items that, however categorically similar, is inapt; an incompatible analogy, or the items so compared; a disanalogy.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Comparing those two jobs is like comparing apples and oranges.”
“You cannot compare a professional athlete to a hobbyist, as they are apples and oranges.”
“To weigh the merits of classical poetry against modern software development is to compare apples and oranges, given their entirely disparate objectives.”
- 01
apple of someone's eye
The object of somebody's affections; a person (or sometimes a thing) that someone strongly prefers; a favorite, a loved one.
- 02
apple polisher
A sycophant; a toady.
- 03
apples to apples
A comparison of items that are similar.
- 04
apples to apples, oranges to oranges
A comparison of items that are similar, while also acknowledging or distinguishing a separation of their sets or categories.
- 05
bad apple
A person who is not wholesome, honest, or trustworthy, especially one who has an adverse influence on others.
- 06
mix apples and oranges
To mix or confuse two completely different objects or ideas.
- 07
orange wine
A type of wine made from white wine grapes whose skins are not removed.
- 08
oranges with oranges
Synonym of apples to apples.
Last updated August 10, 2026