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. Oh, you've got a way better memory than me, there's no comparison. You probably remember what we did for Christmas 1994!

bear comparison

To be similar enough to someone or something as to warrant or justify a comparison, often a positive one. Primarily heard in UK. Though he was largely ignored in his lifetime, scholars today think his later work bears comparison to the likes of Tennyson and Browning. She's got a stellar resume—few other applicants bear comparison.

beyond compare

Unequalled or peerless. I'm not surprised that Molly won that scholarship—her intelligence is beyond compare.

beyond comparison

Unequalled or peerless. I'm not surprised that Molly won a full scholarship to that prestigious university—her intelligence is beyond comparison.

by comparison

When judged against something else. The film was enjoyable, but it pales by comparison to the 1975 original.

comparisons are odious

It is unhelpful, unfair, or misleading to draw comparisons between people or things, especially when done flippantly or inappropriately. Everyone keeps comparing the new streaming service to traditional cable television, but frankly, comparisons are odious. A: "How would you compare Sarah's current boyfriend with her last?" B: "Comparisons are odious, dear. Let's not go down that road."

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.

pale by 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 by comparison to the original. Though that issue is indeed serious, it pales by comparison with the threat of drug abuse that is tearing the country apart.

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.

stand comparison

To be similar enough to someone or something as to warrant or justify a comparison, often a positive one. Primarily heard in UK. Though he was largely ignored in his lifetime, scholars today think his later work stands comparison to the likes of Tennyson and Browning. She's got a stellar resume—few other applicants stand comparison.

without comparison

Unequalled or peerless. I'm not surprised that Molly won a full scholarship to that prestigious university—her intelligence is without comparison.

pale by comparison

and pale in comparison

Fig. 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.

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.

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.

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.’

comparisons are odious

To draw an analogy is offensive; one cannot compare apples and oranges fairly. This term was already so well known in Shakespeare’s time that he was able to make a pun—more accurately a malapropism—on it and be sure it would be perfectly understood (“Comparisons are odorous,” says Dogberry in Much Ado about Nothing, 3.5). The earliest reference recorded is from about 1430, and there are equivalents in French, Italian, and numerous other languages.