THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Like chalk and cheese
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
Very different from each other.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- The twins are like chalk and cheese: one loves crowds, and the other prefers quiet evenings.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
0 of 1 checked correctly
Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
The twins are ________: one loves crowds, and the other prefers quiet evenings.
Show the answer
Like chalk and cheese — Very different from each other.
Try your own sentence (optional)
Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Like chalk and cheese” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
Very different from each other.
Compare: The twins are like chalk and cheese: one loves crowds, and the other prefers quiet evenings.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.
This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.
GO DEEPER
More ways to understand and use it
Jump to a section
When to use it
Use this British expression when comparing two people’s personalities, tastes or habits. It can sound light and conversational rather than necessarily critical.
More examples in context
- My sister and I are like chalk and cheese when it comes to planning holidays.
- Those two colleagues are like chalk and cheese, yet they work well together.
Usage note
The usual pattern is “be like chalk and cheese”. Use it to emphasise difference; it does not mean that the people dislike one another or cannot cooperate.
A short conversation
A: Do your brothers have similar interests?
B: They’re like chalk and cheese. One spends weekends hiking, and the other writes music indoors.
A: It must make family conversations interesting.
One more practice question
If two friends are like chalk and cheese, what is certain from the expression?
A. They dislike each other intensely.
B. They are very different from each other.
Check your answer
B. The phrase describes difference, without necessarily saying anything about their relationship.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.