A comparison of apples and oranges occurs when two items or groups of items are compared that cannot be practically compared.
The idiom, comparing apples and oranges, refers to the apparent differences between items which are popularly thought to be incomparable or incommensurable, such as apples and oranges. The idiom may also be used to indicate that a false analogy has been made between two items, such as where an apple is faulted for not being a good orange.
Read more about Apples And Oranges: Variants, Criticism of The Idiom, Apples and Oranges in Teaching The Use of Units, Oranges As A Type of Apple
Famous quotes containing the words apples and/or oranges:
“What wondrous life in this I lead!
Ripe apples drop about my head;
The luscious clusters of the vine
Upon my mouth do crush their wine;
The nectarine and curious peach
Into my hands themselves do reach;
Stumbling on melons, as I pass,
Ensnared with flowers, I fall on grass.”
—Andrew Marvell (1621–1678)
“I don’t give a hoot in a hollow if there’s oranges and grapes a-crowdin’ us out of bed, I ain’t goin’ to California! This is my country and I belong here. This is my dirt. It’s no good, but it’s mine.”
—Nunnally Johnson (1897–1977)