# tell apart

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/tell-apart
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To perceive things as different, or to perceive their difference itself; to differentiate, distinguish, discriminate.

## Examples

- I cannot tell these two identical twins apart.
- The colors are so similar that it is difficult to tell them apart in this dim light.
- Even the most experienced experts struggle to tell apart the original masterpiece from the remarkably precise modern forgery.

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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.