comparison
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Related to comparisons: Similes
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(there's) no comparison
This person or thing is clearly and inarguably better than any other. This place serves the best pizza in town—no comparison! She might not be the most sociable person around, but when it comes to knowledge of classic literature, there's no comparison.
See also: comparison, no
pale by comparison
To seem less impressive when compared to someone or something else. All of my siblings are surgeons, so my art career always pales by comparison.
pale in comparison
To be or seem less important, impressive, or otherwise deficient when compared to someone or something else. The film was enjoyable, but it pales in comparison to the original. Though that issue is indeed serious, it pales in comparison with the threat of drug abuse that is tearing the country apart.
See also: comparison, pale
by comparison
When judged against something else. The film was enjoyable, but it pales by comparison to the 1975 original.
See also: by, comparison
in comparison
When judged against something else. Typically used in the phrase "pales in comparison." The film was enjoyable, but it pales in comparison to the 1975 original. Her writing is so strong that I feel like mine just pales in comparison.
See also: comparison
beyond comparison
Unequalled or peerless. I'm not surprised that Molly won a full scholarship to that prestigious university—her intelligence is beyond comparison.
See also: beyond, comparison
pale by comparison
and pale in comparisonFig. to appear to be deficient in comparison to something else. My work pales by comparison with yours. You are a real pro.
beyond comparison
Also, without comparison or beyond compare . Too superior to be compared, unrivaled, as in This view of the mountains is beyond comparison, or That bakery is without comparison. The first term, more common today than the much older variants, was first recorded in 1871. Without comparison goes back to 1340, and without compare to 1621.
See also: beyond, comparison
by comˈparison
(written) used especially at the beginning of a sentence when the next thing that is mentioned is compared with something in the previous sentence: By comparison, expenditure on education increased last year.See also: by, comparison
by/in comparison (with somebody/something)
when compared with somebody/something: The second half of the game was dull by comparison with the first. ♢ The tallest buildings in London are small in comparison with New York’s skyscrapers.See also: by, comparison
there’s no comˈparison
used when comparing two people or things to emphasize that one is much better, etc: ‘Who is the better player, Tom or Anna?’ ‘Anna is — there’s no comparison.’See also: comparison, no