difference (redirected from differencing)

(It) makes no difference to me. and (It) makes me no difference.; (It) makes me no nevermind.; (It) don't make me no nevermind.

Inf. I really do not care, one way or the other. (The first one is standard, the others are colloquial.) Bill: Mind if I sit here? Tom: Makes no difference to me. Bill: What would you say if I ate the last piece of cake? Bob: Don't make me no nevermind.

See also: make

make a difference in someone or something

to cause a noticeable change in someone or something. Getting a job made a big difference in my lifestyle. His mother's death made a difference in his attitude toward doctors.

See also: make

make a difference to someone

[for one choice or another] to matter to someone. The big one or the little one—does it really make a difference to anyone? It makes quite a difference to me!

See also: make

make no difference (to someone)

[for a choice] not to matter to someone. (Any is used with negative nouns or verbs.) Pick whom you like. It makes no difference to me. It doesn't make any difference to me. Nothing much makes any difference to them anymore.

See also: make

same difference

the same; no difference at all. Pink, fuchsia, what does it matter? Same difference. Whether you go or I go, it's the same difference.

See also: same

split the difference

to divide the difference evenly (with someone else). You want to sell for $120, and I want to buy for $100. Let's split the difference and close the deal at $110. I don't want to split the difference. I want $120.

See also: split

tell the difference between (someone and someone else) (or something and something else)

to recognize the things that distinguish people or things. I can't tell the difference between Billy and Bobby. Sam can't tell the difference between Granny Smith and Royal Gala apples.

See also: tell

What difference does it make?

Does it really matter?; Does it cause any trouble? What if I choose to leave home? What difference does it make? So Jane dropped out of the club. What difference does it make?

See also: does

---

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: whale

a world of difference 

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

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

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. (often + to ) Working with a nice bunch of people can make all the difference to your job.

See also: make

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

---

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.

See also: make

make a world of difference

to have an important effect make all the difference (in the world) 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: make, world

make all the difference (in the world)

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

See also: make

same difference (spoken)

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. Related vocabulary: meet somebody halfway

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