Idioms

differ

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agree to differ

Of two parties, to mutually accept that they simply do not (and will not) share the same view on a particular issue, in the interest of moving past the issue or avoiding further confrontation. After their discussion about politics intensified, Fred and Sue had to agree to differ before it impacted their friendship. I'm sick of arguing with you, so let's just agree to differ and move on from this issue. Let's just agree to differ on this topic and start talking about something else, huh?
See also: agree, differ, to

beg to differ

To politely disagree with someone else. I'm sorry, headmaster, but I beg to differ. Students at this school should have more access to financial aid and scholarships, not less. He thinks that the evening was a disaster, but I think all those people enjoying themselves would beg to differ! Well, I beg to differ! The medical research we're doing is vital to society and warrants continued funding!
See also: beg, differ, to

differ about (something)

1. To disagree about something. I'm sorry, but we just differ about that analysis—I don't see how you can interpret the text that way. It's hard to be friends with someone when you differ about what is fundamentally important in life. I know we differ about how to solve this math problem, but if we both got the right answer, does it really matter?
2. To argue or debate about something. If you two are going to differ about your interpretations of the text, can you at least take it outside? My two grandfathers always differ about politics whenever they're together. I know you two differ about how to raise your children, but I don't think the entire restaurant wants to hear about it!
See also: differ

differ from (someone or something)

To be unlike someone or something. Can you explain how this car differs from that one? This proposal barely differs from the original one at all! And how exactly does this scam of yours differ from robbery?
See also: differ

differ in (something)

To have specific differences from someone or something else. I can tell the twins apart—they differ in that Jim has a birthmark on his cheek. This recipe differs from that one because it doesn't require eggs. See, these plants differ in their stems—that's how you can tell them apart.
See also: differ

differ on (something)

1. To disagree about something. I'm sorry, but we just differ on that analysis—I don't see how you can interpret the text that way. It's hard to be friends with someone when you differ on what is fundamentally important in life. I know we differ on how to solve this math problem, but if we both got the right answer, does it really matter?
2. To argue or debate about something. If you two are going to differ on your interpretations of the text, can you at least take it outside? My two grandfathers always differ on politics whenever they're together. I know you two differ on how to raise your children, but I don't think the entire restaurant wants to hear about it!
See also: differ, on

differ with (someone) about (something)

1. To disagree about something. I'm sorry, but I differ with you about that analysis and don't see how you can interpret the text that way. If you differ with someone about what is fundamentally important in life, how can you be friends with them? I know you differ with me about how to solve this math problem, but if we both got the right answer, does it really matter?
2. To argue or debate about something. If you two are going to differ with each other about your interpretations of the text, can you at least take it outside? My grandfather always differs with Uncle Ed about politics whenever they're together. I know you differ with your sister about how to raise your children, but I don't think the entire restaurant wants to hear about it!
See also: differ

differ with (someone) on (something)

1. To disagree about something. I'm sorry, but I differ with you on that analysis and don't see how you can interpret the text that way. If you differ with someone on what is fundamentally important in life, how can you be friends with them? I know you differ with me on how to solve this math problem, but if we both got the right answer, does it really matter?
2. To argue or debate about something. If you two are going to differ with each other on your interpretations of the text, can you at least take it outside? My grandfather always differs with Uncle Ed on politics whenever they're together. I know you differ with your sister on how to raise your children, but I don't think the entire restaurant wants to hear about it!
See also: differ, on

tastes differ

Preferences, inclinations, and desires can vary widely between different people. It's true that tastes differ, but I've yet to meet someone who genuinely dislikes this movie and its sequel. A: "It just really aggravates me that Tom thinks the book is stupid." B: "Tastes differ, John. Just let it go."
See also: differ, taste
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

beg to differ (with someone)

Fig. to disagree with someone; to state one's disagreement with someone in a polite way. (Usually used in a statement made to the person being disagreed with.) I beg to differ with you, but you have stated everything exactly backwards. If I may beg to differ, you have not expressed my position as well as you seem to think.
See also: beg, differ, to

differ from something

[for something] to be different from something else. No, this one differs from the one you saw because it has a bigger handle. How does this one differ from that one?
See also: differ

differ in something

[for people or things] to be different in a specific way or in specific ways. They differ only in the color of their eyes and the size of their shoes. They differ in size and shape.
See also: differ

differ (with someone) about something

 and differ (with someone) on something 
1. [for someone] to disagree with someone about something. I must differ with you about that. We differ about that. I don't differ with you on that point.
2. [for someone] to argue with someone about something. Tom was differing with Terry rather loudly about which one of them was going to carry the flag. Let's stop differing with each other on these simple things!
See also: differ

Tastes differ.

Prov. Different people like different things. Fred: Bill always goes out with such stupid girls. I can't understand why. Alan: Tastes differ.
See also: differ, Taste
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

beg to differ

Disagree with someone, as in John told me Max was sure to win, but I beg to differ-I don't think he has a chance. This courteous formula for expressing disagreement echoes similar uses of beg in the sense of "ask," such as I beg your pardon, so used since about 1600. Also see excuse me.
See also: beg, differ, to
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

agree to differ

or

agree to disagree

If two people who are arguing about something agree to differ or agree to disagree, they decide to stop arguing because neither of them is going to change their opinion. I find some of his views very curious and we've agreed to differ on some things. You and I are going to have to agree to disagree on this issue.
See also: agree, differ, to
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

agree to differ

cease to argue about something because neither party will compromise or be persuaded.
See also: agree, differ, to
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

aˌgree to ˈdiffer

(of two or more people) allow each other to have different opinions about something, especially in order to avoid more argument: Our views on this matter are so different that we’ll just have to agree to differ.
See also: agree, differ, to

I beg to ˈdiffer

used to say politely that you do not agree with something that has just been said: I must beg to differ on this. I think you are quite mistaken.
See also: beg, differ, to
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

differ from

v.
To have qualities that are not the same as those of something else: My results differed from the results of everyone else who conducted the experiment. Sopranos differ from altos in having higher voices.
See also: differ
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

beg to differ

To disagree in a polite manner.
See also: beg, differ, to
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

beg to differ, I

I disagree. This polite conversational phrase uses beg in the sense of “ask” or “entreat,” much as it is in the stock locution “I beg your pardon” for “Excuse me.” This usage dates from the 1300s.
See also: beg, to
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
See also:
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While the range of reason allows for differing opinions about various concepts within the Humanist camp (reasonable minds will sometimes differ, after all), the myth and superstition of virtually all of the world's ancient religious institutions clearly fall outside the parameters of reason.
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