THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Compare apples and oranges
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To compare things that are too different for the comparison to be useful or fair.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- Comparing the price of a single lesson with a full-year course is comparing apples and oranges.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
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Can you recall the expression?
Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?
To compare things that are too different for the comparison to be useful or fair.
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Compare apples and oranges — To compare things that are too different for the comparison to be useful or fair.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Compare apples and oranges” about your own life.
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Does your sentence match this meaning?
To compare things that are too different for the comparison to be useful or fair.
Compare: Comparing the price of a single lesson with a full-year course is comparing apples and oranges.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it when a comparison overlooks major differences in purpose, conditions or scope. It suits everyday and workplace discussion.
More examples in context
- We are comparing apples and oranges if we judge both jobs only by their hours.
- Those scores come from different tests, so comparing them directly would be comparing apples and oranges.
Usage note
“Compare apples with oranges” is a useful variation. You can compare different things sensibly, but this idiom criticises a comparison that ignores crucial differences.
A short conversation
A: Why is this complete course dearer than that single workshop?
B: That comparison is apples and oranges. The course includes twelve sessions.
A: Let us compare the cost per session instead.
One more practice question
Which comparison risks comparing apples and oranges?
A. Comparing a month’s rent for a room with a year’s rent for an entire house as if they cover the same thing.
B. Comparing two rooms for the same rental period and with the same included services.
Check your answer
A. The different periods and types of accommodation make the direct comparison misleading.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.