Meanings
- idiomaticpluralplural onlyA comparison of items that are similar, while also acknowledging or distinguishing a separation of their sets or categories.
After reading the claims: "Thus, the syntax of the claim suggests comparison of like entities to like entities-apples to apples, oranges to oranges, heating medium to heating medium."
1999, Journal of the Patent and Trademark Office Society, volume 81, page 6155 more examples
When you search for comparable objects, be sure you have a realistic opinion of your building. If your building is an older garden apartment, the rents of a luxury high-rise nearby are not valuable for comparison purposes. Compare apples to apples, oranges to oranges. Be sure the apples you compare are similar in age, styles, class and amenities.
1978, Duane Gomer, Creative Apartment Management ... the Easy Approach, A Compendium for Apartment Owners and Managers, Property Managers and Supervisors, Brokers, and Everyone Interested in the Field of Apartment Management, page 32Comparing utilization and financial data among different health centers is always difficult. Variations in reimbursement, record-keeping and reporting practices, as well as other factors, present formidable barriers to assuring "apples to apples, oranges to oranges" comparisons.
1988, United States, Bureau of Health Care Delivery and Assistance, Laboratory & X-ray Services In Community and Migrant Health Centers, page 13Immediately, I know, the electricians and plumbers are going to say you can't do it that way with the work they do. But you can. And people do. And the point of all this is to be able to always compare comparable things. Apples to apples. Oranges to oranges. Repair estimates written using standard unit costs, itemized on a line item basis are much easier to read, understand and compare than contractors' proposals.
2004, Gordon Smith, After the Mold, It's Your Money Turning to Dust, page 114This type of mistake could be very, very costly. Remember, apples to apples, oranges to oranges. It doesn't matter which option's volatility of the spread you move as long as you get both options to an equal base volatility.
2009, Ron Ianeri, Options Theory and Trading, A Step-by-Step Guide to Control Risk and Generate Profits, page 244Here the "apples to apples, oranges to oranges" comparison involves comparing one type of test to another type of test while comparing the format of one such test to the formats of the other type of test.
2012, Brandon Royal, The Little Red Writing Book, Deluxe Edition, page 264
Cite this entry
apples to apples, oranges to oranges. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apples%20to%20apples%2C%20oranges%20to%20oranges
“apples to apples, oranges to oranges.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apples%20to%20apples%2C%20oranges%20to%20oranges. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “apples to apples, oranges to oranges,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/apples%20to%20apples%2C%20oranges%20to%20oranges.
Source: apples to apples, oranges to oranges on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.