# mix apples and oranges

idiom

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

## Meaning

To mix or confuse two completely different objects or ideas.

## Examples

- You cannot compare them; you are mixing apples and oranges.
- Comparing the salary of a teacher to that of a CEO is like mixing apples and oranges.
- The analyst argued that evaluating the company's long-term growth against short-term market fluctuations was essentially mixing apples and oranges.

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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.