# apples to apples, oranges to oranges

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/apples-to-apples-oranges-to-oranges
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A comparison of items that are similar, while also acknowledging or distinguishing a separation of their sets or categories.

## Examples

- You cannot compare these cars; it is apples to apples, oranges to oranges.
- When analyzing the sales data, we must separate the retail and wholesale sectors to ensure we are comparing apples to apples, oranges to oranges.
- To reach a fair conclusion regarding the two different economic models, the researchers insisted on comparing apples to apples, oranges to oranges, rather than conflating disparate variables.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.