# Comparing apples to oranges **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 1, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970 "2023-12-01T18:13:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/1 "2023-12-01T18:13:06Z")
We’ve all heard it, “You can’t do that - it’s like comparing apples to oranges.” So what? That’s literally what comparison means. I can easily list the differences, advantages and disadvantages of apple and oranges. I prefer “You can’t compare apples to orangutans.” And of course, now some smart ass is going to do just that. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/2 "2023-12-01T18:15:28Z")
I believe the implication of the idiom is that it’s a false analogy. You can’t fault an apple for not being an orange, and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/3 "2023-12-01T18:21:25Z")
When you assume, you make an educated guess based on a combination of available evidence and logical reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/4 "2023-12-01T18:25:52Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I believe the implication of the idiom is that it’s a false analogy. You can’t fault an apple for not being an orange, and vice versa. Yeah, that’s all the idiom means. You certainly can compare apples and oranges in reality, it all depends on how broad your parameters are. > [@mixdenny](#): > > I prefer “You can’t compare apples to orangutans.” And of course, now some smart ass is going to do just that. Well, I’ve heard that we humans share 50% of our DNA with bananas, so apples and orangutans can’t be that far apart either. Personally I prefer apples— much easier to deal with than orangutans. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/5 "2023-12-01T18:27:10Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Personally I prefer apples— much easier to deal with than orangutans. - Apples are _much_ easier to peel. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/6 "2023-12-01T18:28:10Z")
And apples can be eaten either raw or cooked. Raw orangutan is terrible ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/7 "2023-12-01T18:30:47Z")
> [@solost](#): > > And apples can be eaten either raw or cooked. Raw orangutan is terrible - True. However, four and twenty orangutans baked in a pie… \< chef’s kiss \> ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/8 "2023-12-01T18:34:17Z")
I come from Brits on my mom’s side of the family, and if that had been their only source of steak & kidney pie, well, they would’ve made do in a pinch. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/9 "2023-12-01T20:48:22Z")
Yes. Indeed, did not Hannah Glasse, in her book _The Art of Cookery, made Plain and Easy_ say “First catch your orangutan” ? \* \*No. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/10 "2023-12-01T21:28:48Z")
> **[Apples and oranges](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apples_and_oranges)** > > A comparison of apples and oranges occurs when two items or groups of items are compared that cannot be practically compared, typically because of inherent or fundamental differences between the objects. > The idiom, comparing apples and oranges, refers to the differences between items which are popularly thought to be incomparable or incommensurable, such as apples and oranges. The idiom may also indicate that a false analogy has been made between two items, such as where an apple is faulted fo... ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/11 "2023-12-01T21:37:18Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I believe the implication of the idiom is that it’s a false analogy. You can’t fault an apple for not being an orange, and vice versa. Yeah I but its a bad metaphor, as actually in most respects you can draw an analogy between apples and oranges. They are both human-edible fruit, approximately the same size, both grown on trees. Unless your analogy involves one of the few attributes they don’t share, go ahead compare away. “That’s like comparing apples to the concept of a bicameral legislator.”: That makes sense. “That’s like comparing apples to oranges.”: Not so much ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/12 "2023-12-01T21:40:51Z")
> [@pjd](#): > > Yes. Indeed, did not Hannah Glasse, in her book _The Art of Cookery, made Plain and Easy_ > say “First catch your orangutan” ? \* > > \*No. To make an orangutan pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/13 "2023-12-01T21:50:37Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > That’s literally what comparison means. I can easily list the differences, advantages and disadvantages of apple and oranges. To be serious, and possibly over-pedantic, for a moment: I think what you’re talking about is comparing apples _as a class or type_ to oranges _as a class or type_. But that’s not what the idiom is referring to, because, of course, it would make no sense to compare the concept or class of apples to the class of apples. But you would compare one individual apple to another, which is more straightforward than comparing an individual apple to an individual orange. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/14 "2023-12-01T21:50:44Z")
You can easily compare apples and oranges. What’s more difficult is likening them to each other. (Does this belong in the “words that get confused” thread?) ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/15 "2023-12-01T22:14:58Z")
Would it be better to compare witches to ducks? > **[monty python-witch scene](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_l5ntikaU%2F)** > > holy grail witch sceneI didn't make this obviously, it's made by Monty Python. Love them! I do. > **[Monty Python and the Holy Grail Soundtrack 3/7: Logician](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZqs36C5sgM%2F)** > > Copyright 1975 Arista Records. I will remove this video immediately upon request from interested parties.This video contains profanity.The Album of the Sound... ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/16 "2023-12-01T22:20:07Z")
It’s a Fair Cop. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/17 "2023-12-01T23:35:27Z")
The idiom is making the point that, while apples and oranges have certain similarities and superficially appear alike, in fact they are not actually alike in their essentials, thus one is making an incorrect or misleading comparison of the two things that have provoked the comment. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/18 "2023-12-01T23:46:00Z")
Ook!! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/19 "2023-12-02T00:58:41Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > That’s literally what comparison means. I can easily list the differences, advantages and disadvantages of apple and oranges. Isn’t that contrast and not compare? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970/20 "2023-12-02T01:34:03Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > You can’t fault an apple for not being an orange, and vice versa. _I Hate A Nickel Cause It Ain’t A Dime_ is a blues/rock song written and performed by my buddy, Pittsburgh music legend Norman Nardini. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/comparing-apples-to-oranges/993970.md?page=2)