Comparing Apples to Oranges: Why Some Comparisons Just Don’t Make Sense

The phrase “comparing apples to oranges” is a common idiom used in English to describe a comparison between two things that are fundamentally different and, therefore, cannot be fairly compared. It highlights the idea that some things are so distinct from each other that drawing a meaningful comparison is illogical or unfair.

Meaning of “Comparing Apples to Oranges”

The expression refers to the act of comparing two items, ideas, or situations that are too different to be compared accurately. It implies that the comparison lacks validity because the things being compared do not share enough similarities.

For example, comparing a painter’s artistic skills to a scientist’s ability to conduct experiments would be “comparing apples to oranges” because these fields require completely different skill sets.

Synonyms and Similar Expressions

While “comparing apples to oranges” is the most widely used version, similar phrases exist in different cultures and languages. Some alternative expressions include:

Comparing chalk and cheese (British English)
Comparing day and night
Comparing water and oil
Comparing grapes to watermelons (Spanish: Comparar uvas con sandías)

Each of these expressions conveys the same idea—two things are too different to be compared fairly.

History and Origin

The origins of this phrase are not entirely clear, but variations of it date back centuries. Some historians believe it may have originated from older European expressions that compare two unrelated items, such as “comparing apples and oysters” (which was used in 17th-century England).

The modern version of the phrase, "comparing apples to oranges," became popular in the 20th century, especially in the United States. It has since become a staple idiom in both casual and formal discussions.

Usage in Everyday Language

The phrase is often used in debates, discussions, and arguments to point out an unfair or illogical comparison. It appears frequently in business, education, sports, and even personal conversations.

For example:

In business: “You can’t compare a startup’s revenue to that of a multinational corporation—it’s like comparing apples to oranges.”
In education: “Comparing an online course to a traditional classroom experience is like comparing apples to oranges.”
In sports: “Debating whether soccer is better than basketball is an apples-to-oranges argument.”

5 Sample Sentences

Trying to compare the intelligence of a dog and a dolphin is like comparing apples to oranges—they have completely different abilities.
You can’t compare a novel to a movie adaptation; it’s like comparing apples to oranges.
The professor told the students that comparing ancient and modern political systems without considering historical context was an apples-to-oranges comparison.
It’s unfair to compare the salary of a teacher to that of a tech executive; that’s comparing apples to oranges.
Debating whether classical music is better than jazz is an apples-to-oranges argument because they serve different artistic purposes.

Final Thoughts

The phrase “comparing apples to oranges” reminds us to be mindful of how we compare things. Not all comparisons are valid, and understanding differences is just as important as recognizing similarities. Whether in casual conversation or academic debate, this idiom serves as a useful reminder to compare things that are actually comparable.

Do you have any favorite idioms? Let me know in the comments! 🍏🍊