compare apples and oranges

compare apples and oranges

To try to highlight the similarities between two different things—which typically cannot be done. You can't compare your job as a nurse to mine as an engineer—that's comparing apples and oranges!
See also: and, apple, compare, orange
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
I just couldn't put my finger on it - until I realised I was trying to compare apples and oranges, as Dr Jo would say.
Football: In the Maine it beats Old Firm
You cannot compare apples and oranges, and we enjoyed Harry Potter much more than TLOTR.
Kinkade, Tolkien & Rowling. (Letters to the Editor)
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