apple

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. (old-fashioned)

something that you say which means eating an apple every day will keep you healthy. If 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away,' then why have I got this terrible cold?

See also: away, day, doctor, keep

the apple of someone's eye

the person who someone loves most and is very proud of. His youngest son was the apple of his eye.

See also: eye

apples and oranges (American)

if two people or things are apples and oranges, they are completely different. You can't compare inner city schools and schools in the suburbs - they're apples and oranges.

See also: orange

a bad/rotten apple

one bad person in a group of people who are good. You'll find the occasional rotten apple in every organization.

See also: bad, rotten

be as American as apple pie

to be typically American. Country and western music is as American as apple pie.

See also: American, pie

be in apple-pie order

to be very tidy and in good order. Wendy kept all her belongings in apple-pie order.

See also: order

How do you like them apples!

1. something that you say when you want someone to know how clever or successful you are, especially when you have done something better than they have. You know that girl we were talking to last night - with the long blond hair? Well, I got her number. How do you like them apples!

2. something that you say to show you are surprised or disappointed by something that has happened. So Marilyn has moved to Florida? Well, how do you like them apples!

See also: how, like, them

She'll be apples. (Australian, informal, Australian, informal)

something that you say in order to tell someone that they do not need to worry and that everything will happen as it should. 'What if it rains for the wedding?' 'Don't worry, she'll be apples.'

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the apple of your eye

the person someone likes most or is most proud of. Harry was his first child and the apple of his eye.

See also: eye

as American as apple pie

having qualities that are thought to be typical of the US or of the people of the US. Blue jeans are as American as apple pie.

See also: American, pie

compare apples and oranges

to examine the similarities of things that are completely different. Comparing the average wages of workers and managers is like trying to compare apples and oranges.

Usage notes: usually used to explain that two things cannot be compared

See also: compare, orange