apples and oranges

Idioms  

1. Unlike objects or persons, as in Assessing the problems of the neighborhood grocery by examining a giant supermarket is comparing apples and oranges. This metaphor for dissimilarity began as apples and oysters, which appeared in John Ray's proverb collection of 1670. It is nearly always accompanied by a warning that one cannot compare such different categories.

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Example Sentences

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apples and oranges

"England and Scotland may be apples and oranges in terms of their football culture, but I don't believe the same can be said about the people culture", he said.

From BBC ● Jun. 23, 2026

Every week or so, I stock up on a “bunch” of ripe bananas, stashing them alongside the apples and oranges in my fruit bowl, only to forget about their existence within a few short days.

From Salon ● Jun. 20, 2026

That’s why comparing stocks’ past returns to Social Security’s risk-free, inflation-adjusted payments isn’t apples and oranges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 21, 2025

Colleges and universities may object that I’m comparing apples and oranges.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2025

He came back with three bushel baskets full of groceries, fresh apples and oranges, garden vegetables, and two chickens.

From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals