compare apples and oranges

compare apples and oranges

To try to highlight the similarities between two different things—which typically cannot be done. You can't compare your job as a nurse to mine as an engineer—that's comparing apples and oranges!
See also: and, apple, compare, orange
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • mix apples and oranges
  • compare to
  • compare with
  • compare (someone or something) to (someone or something)
  • compare (someone or something) with (someone or something)
  • as (something) as (something)
  • as . . . as
  • so (something) as (something)
  • apples to oranges
  • compare apples to oranges
References in periodicals archive
I just couldn't put my finger on it - until I realised I was trying to compare apples and oranges, as Dr Jo would say.
Football: In the Maine it beats Old Firm
You cannot compare apples and oranges, and we enjoyed Harry Potter much more than TLOTR.
Kinkade, Tolkien & Rowling. (Letters to the Editor)