CUNY - College of Staten Island - English Language Institute



CUNY - College of Staten Island: The English Language Institute (ELI) of the Center for Global Engagement has offered innovative academic programs for students learning English as a Second Language since the late 1970’s. Our course of study is designed to challenge and engage students. Students are immersed in the language, culture, and ethnicity of New York City. Classes range from beginner to the advanced level.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

To Compare Apples to Oranges

to compare two unlike things; to make an invalid comparison

For example: Comparing a night in a four-star hotel with a night in a one-star hotel is like comparing apples to oranges. One is a luxury hotel and the other is a budget hotel.


image courtesy of dreamstime.com
A related expression is "compare apples to apples" which means to compare two things of the same type. This means that you are making a valid comparison, as opposed to when you're comparing apples to oranges.

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