difference

make all the difference

if something makes all the difference, it has a very good effect on a thing or a situation. It's that little bit of salt that you add to the dressing - it makes all the difference. Working with a nice bunch of people can make all the difference to your job. (often + to)

See also: all

Same difference.

something that you say which means that the difference between two things is not important. They were married for forty years, or was it thirty? Same difference - it was a long time anyway.

See also: same

a whale of a [bill/difference/problem etc.] (American & Australian)

a very large bill, difference, problem etc.. Another thousand dollars would make a whale of a difference. We ran up a whale of a bill in the restaurant.

See also: bill, problem, whale

a world of difference

1. if there is a world of difference between two people or things, they are very different. There's a world of difference between seeing a film on video and seeing it in the cinema. (usually + between)

2. if something makes a world of difference, it improves something very much. A little sympathy makes a world of difference to someone who's been badly treated.

See also: world

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difference of opinion

a disagreement. My father and I had our differences of opinion about the war.

See also: opinion

make a difference

to have an effect. It is exciting to do something that really makes a difference in your community. People don't realize that their vote can make a difference.

Usage notes: often used in the form make no difference: It makes no difference to me if the game is televised or not.

make a world of difference

to have an important effect. Some food, some milk, and some warmth made a world of difference to the small stray cat. The rains made a world of difference to worried farmers.

See also: world

make all the difference (in the world)

to have an important effect. Our team has a fine coach, and that makes all the difference.

See also: all

same difference

the same thing. Either he's a genius or he's crazy – same difference, really.

See also: same

split the difference

1. to accept only part of what was originally wanted. When they don't agree, she's always trying to get them to split the difference so everyone will be happy.

2. to each pay half of an amount. I told the owners that we could split the difference between their price and my offer.

See also: split