oyster

Related to oyster: oyster stew, Oyster pearl

apples and oranges

Two unlike things or people. Oh, you can't compare those two companies, they're apples and oranges! My mom and my mother-in-law are just apples and oranges and should not be left alone in the same room for too long.

See also: and, apple, orange

mountain oysters

A food made from animal testicles, often those of a sheep or calf. A: "Let's get some mountain oysters!" B: "Are you sure? Did you read the description on the menu?"

the world is (one's) oyster

One can do anything one wants in life. You have so much talent at such a young age—the world is your oyster!

See also: oyster, world

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

apples and oranges

Fig. two entities that are not similar. (Used especially in reference to comparisons of unlike things.) You can't talk about Fred and Ted in the same breath! They're like apples and oranges. Talking about her current book and her previous bestseller is like comparing apples and oranges.

See also: and, apple, orange

The world is one's oyster.

Fig. One rules the world.; One is in charge of everything. I feel like the world is my oyster today. The world is my oyster! I'm in love!

See also: oyster, world

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

apples and oranges

Unlike objects or persons, as in Assessing the problems of the neighborhood grocery by examining a giant supermarket is comparing apples and oranges . This metaphor for dissimilarity began as apples and oysters, which appeared in John Ray's proverb collection of 1670. It is nearly always accompanied by a warning that one cannot compare such different categories.

See also: and, apple, orange

world is one's oyster, the

Everything is going well, as in I was younger then, and the world was my oyster. In this term the oyster is something from which to extract great profit (a pearl). It was probably invented by Shakespeare in The Merry Wives of Windsor (2:2): "Why then, the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open."

apples and oranges

If you say that two things are apples and oranges, you mean that they are completely different and cannot be compared. We really can't compare the data any more, it's not the same — it's just apples and oranges. Note: You can also say that comparing two things is like comparing apples with oranges. To compare one with the other is to make the mistake we were all warned about in third grade, not to compare apples with oranges.

See also: and, apple, orange

the world is your oyster

If you tell someone the world is your oyster, you mean that they can do anything they like and go anywhere they like. When I was 29 I was a millionaire. You come from nothing and suddenly the world is your oyster. Think of all the opportunities before you. The world is your oyster. Note: This expression suggests that success can be taken from the world in the same way that pearls can be taken from oysters. This idea was used by Shakespeare in `The Merry Wives Of Windsor': `Why, then the world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open.' (Act 2, Scene 2)

See also: oyster, world

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

apples and oranges

(of two people or things) irreconcilably or fundamentally different. North American

See also: and, apple, orange

the world is your oyster

you are in a position to take the opportunities that life has to offer.

This expression may come from Shakespeare 's The Merry Wives of Windsor: ‘Why, then the world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open’. The humorously malapropistic variant the world is your lobster was popularized by the Thames TV series Minder ( 1979–94 ).

1998 Times I was never brought up thinking, ‘You are an Asian woman so you can't do things.’ I was always given the impression that the world was my oyster.

See also: oyster, world

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

ˌapples and ˈoranges

(American English) used to describe a situation in which two people or things are completely different from each other: He was no competition for me: it was like apples and oranges.

See also: and, apple, orange

the ˌworld is your ˈoyster

you have the freedom to do what you want, go where you want, etc. in the future because you are young, successful, rich, etc: What do you mean, you don’t know what to do with your life? The world is your oyster!

See also: oyster, world

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the world is one’s oyster

sent. one rules the world; one is in charge of everything. I feel like the world is my oyster, today.

See also: oyster, world

McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

world is my oyster, the

Everything is going well for me. This metaphor, alluding to the world as a place from which to extract profit, just as one takes pearls from oysters, may have been coined by Shakespeare. He used it in The Merry Wives of Windsor (2.2): “Why then, the world’s mine oyster, Which I with Sword will open.” It is heard less often today.

the world is your oyster

Anything you wish is yours for the taking. This piece of advice, usually given to youngsters, suggests that their future holds great riches, the way an oyster contains a pearl, and all they need do is use education, skill, or another talent to pry open the metaphorical bivalve and claim their reward. In Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, the character Pistol is heard to say, “Why then the world's mine oyster / Which I with sword will open.”

See also: oyster, world

Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price

See also:

apples and oranges
apples to oranges
compare apples to oranges
A2O
mix apples and oranges
comparisons are odious
chalk and cheese
between two fires
at each other's throats
be at each other's throats

References in classic literature

The oyster pirates, a fleet of a dozen sloops, were lying at anchor on what was known as the "Deserted Beds." The Coal Tar Maggie came sloshing into their midst with a light breeze astern, and they crowded on deck to see us.

The oyster pirates lay snugly together at short hawsers, the weather being fine, and they protested loudly at our ignorance in putting out such an unwarranted length of anchor-chain.

"They are not regular oyster pirates," Nicholas continued.

After half a mile of the mud, we came upon a deep channel, up which we rowed, with dead oyster shoals looming high and dry on either side.

Two other Whitehalls followed us, and as the moon now shone brightly, we easily made out the oyster pirates on their lonely shoal.

It was a mild and shivering band of pirates that we marched up the beach to the oyster house.

"A good catch, I guess," Charley said, pointing to the heaps of oysters, assorted in three sizes, which lay upon their decks.

Pedlers were backing their wagons to the edge of the wharf, and from the bargaining and chaffering that went on, I managed to learn the selling price of the oysters.

"S'pose you can tell your oysters wherever you see 'em?"

"Now, in my experience," broke in the tall man, "oysters is oysters wherever you find 'em, an' they're pretty much alike all the Bay over, and the world over, too, for that matter.

Tales of the Fish Patrol

To-morrow I would be an oyster pirate, as free a freebooter as the century and the waters of San Francisco Bay would permit.

John Barleycorn

"Not bad," he said, stripping the oysters from the pearly shell with a silver fork, and swallowing them one after another.

Levin ate the oysters indeed, though white bread and cheese would have pleased him better.

"You don't care much for oysters, do you?" said Stepan Arkadyevitch, emptying his wine glass, "or you're worried about something.

But still it's queer to me, just as at this moment it seems queer to me that we country folks try to get our meals over as soon as we can, so as to be ready for our work, while here are we trying to drag out our meal as long as possible, and with that object eating oysters..."

Anna Karenina

词组	oyster
释义	oyster Related to oyster: oyster stew, Oyster pearl apples and oranges Two unlike things or people. Oh, you can't compare those two companies, they're apples and oranges! My mom and my mother-in-law are just apples and oranges and should not be left alone in the same room for too long. See also: and, apple, orange mountain oysters A food made from animal testicles, often those of a sheep or calf. A: "Let's get some mountain oysters!" B: "Are you sure? Did you read the description on the menu?" See also: mountain, oyster the world is (one's) oyster One can do anything one wants in life. You have so much talent at such a young age—the world is your oyster! See also: oyster, world Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. apples and oranges Fig. two entities that are not similar. (Used especially in reference to comparisons of unlike things.) You can't talk about Fred and Ted in the same breath! They're like apples and oranges. Talking about her current book and her previous bestseller is like comparing apples and oranges. See also: and, apple, orange The world is one's oyster. Fig. One rules the world.; One is in charge of everything. I feel like the world is my oyster today. The world is my oyster! I'm in love! See also: oyster, world McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. apples and oranges Unlike objects or persons, as in Assessing the problems of the neighborhood grocery by examining a giant supermarket is comparing apples and oranges . This metaphor for dissimilarity began as apples and oysters, which appeared in John Ray's proverb collection of 1670. It is nearly always accompanied by a warning that one cannot compare such different categories. See also: and, apple, orange world is one's oyster, the Everything is going well, as in I was younger then, and the world was my oyster. In this term the oyster is something from which to extract great profit (a pearl). It was probably invented by Shakespeare in The Merry Wives of Windsor (2:2): "Why then, the world's mine oyster, which I with sword will open." See also: world The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. apples and oranges If you say that two things are apples and oranges, you mean that they are completely different and cannot be compared. We really can't compare the data any more, it's not the same — it's just apples and oranges. Note: You can also say that comparing two things is like comparing apples with oranges. To compare one with the other is to make the mistake we were all warned about in third grade, not to compare apples with oranges. See also: and, apple, orange the world is your oyster If you tell someone the world is your oyster, you mean that they can do anything they like and go anywhere they like. When I was 29 I was a millionaire. You come from nothing and suddenly the world is your oyster. Think of all the opportunities before you. The world is your oyster. Note: This expression suggests that success can be taken from the world in the same way that pearls can be taken from oysters. This idea was used by Shakespeare in `The Merry Wives Of Windsor': `Why, then the world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open.' (Act 2, Scene 2) See also: oyster, world Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. apples and oranges (of two people or things) irreconcilably or fundamentally different. North American See also: and, apple, orange the world is your oyster you are in a position to take the opportunities that life has to offer. This expression may come from Shakespeare 's The Merry Wives of Windsor: ‘Why, then the world's mine oyster, Which I with sword will open’. The humorously malapropistic variant the world is your lobster was popularized by the Thames TV series Minder ( 1979–94 ). 1998 Times I was never brought up thinking, ‘You are an Asian woman so you can't do things.’ I was always given the impression that the world was my oyster. See also: oyster, world Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary ˌapples and ˈoranges (American English) used to describe a situation in which two people or things are completely different from each other: He was no competition for me: it was like apples and oranges. See also: and, apple, orange the ˌworld is your ˈoyster you have the freedom to do what you want, go where you want, etc. in the future because you are young, successful, rich, etc: What do you mean, you don’t know what to do with your life? The world is your oyster! See also: oyster, world Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary the world is one’s oyster sent. one rules the world; one is in charge of everything. I feel like the world is my oyster, today. See also: oyster, world McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions world is my oyster, the Everything is going well for me. This metaphor, alluding to the world as a place from which to extract profit, just as one takes pearls from oysters, may have been coined by Shakespeare. He used it in The Merry Wives of Windsor (2.2): “Why then, the world’s mine oyster, Which I with Sword will open.” It is heard less often today. See also: world The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer the world is your oyster Anything you wish is yours for the taking. This piece of advice, usually given to youngsters, suggests that their future holds great riches, the way an oyster contains a pearl, and all they need do is use education, skill, or another talent to pry open the metaphorical bivalve and claim their reward. In Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, the character Pistol is heard to say, “Why then the world's mine oyster / Which I with sword will open.” See also: oyster, world Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price See also: apples and oranges apples to oranges compare apples to oranges A2O mix apples and oranges comparisons are odious chalk and cheese between two fires at each other's throats be at each other's throats References in classic literature The oyster pirates, a fleet of a dozen sloops, were lying at anchor on what was known as the "Deserted Beds." The Coal Tar Maggie came sloshing into their midst with a light breeze astern, and they crowded on deck to see us. The oyster pirates lay snugly together at short hawsers, the weather being fine, and they protested loudly at our ignorance in putting out such an unwarranted length of anchor-chain. "They are not regular oyster pirates," Nicholas continued. After half a mile of the mud, we came upon a deep channel, up which we rowed, with dead oyster shoals looming high and dry on either side. Two other Whitehalls followed us, and as the moon now shone brightly, we easily made out the oyster pirates on their lonely shoal. It was a mild and shivering band of pirates that we marched up the beach to the oyster house. "A good catch, I guess," Charley said, pointing to the heaps of oysters, assorted in three sizes, which lay upon their decks. Pedlers were backing their wagons to the edge of the wharf, and from the bargaining and chaffering that went on, I managed to learn the selling price of the oysters. "S'pose you can tell your oysters wherever you see 'em?" "Now, in my experience," broke in the tall man, "oysters is oysters wherever you find 'em, an' they're pretty much alike all the Bay over, and the world over, too, for that matter. Tales of the Fish Patrol To-morrow I would be an oyster pirate, as free a freebooter as the century and the waters of San Francisco Bay would permit. John Barleycorn "Not bad," he said, stripping the oysters from the pearly shell with a silver fork, and swallowing them one after another. Levin ate the oysters indeed, though white bread and cheese would have pleased him better. "You don't care much for oysters, do you?" said Stepan Arkadyevitch, emptying his wine glass, "or you're worried about something. But still it's queer to me, just as at this moment it seems queer to me that we country folks try to get our meals over as soon as we can, so as to be ready for our work, while here are we trying to drag out our meal as long as possible, and with that object eating oysters..." Anna Karenina
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