speak the same language

Idioms

Understand one another very well, agree with each other, as in Negotiations went on for days, but finally both sides realized they weren't speaking the same language. This term, alluding to literal understanding of spoken words, dates from the late 1800s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“They all speak the same language, but there wasn’t a villain who used sign language. Historically, there have been Deaf criminals, but our history has been marginalized.”

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 18, 2025

"You think that because we speak the same language, I wouldn't need subtitles, but I do," the 42-year-old jokes.

From BBC • Aug. 17, 2025

“Finding and creating that space where we speak the same language when talking about the forest was key.”

From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2024

Historically, mobility in the U.S. has been higher compared to European countries, mainly because people here speak the same language, making it easier to settle in a new city, Troiano said.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2024

We’d been friends for years, yet lately it seemed that we didn’t speak the same language.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023