variation

Related to variation: continuous variation, inverse variation

a variation on the theme of (something)

A different or unique way of doing, saying, or presenting something that has been done in the past. The new restaurant offers a variation on the theme of the roadside diner, giving patrons haute-cuisine interpretations of greasy spoon staples. When asked why, his answer was a variation on the theme of "bigger is better." The anthology series presents variations on the themes of classic genre tropes, such as westerns, Gothic thrillers, rom-coms, and even old cheesy B movies.
See also: of, on, theme, variation
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

variations on the theme of something

different ways of doing or saying the same thing: Her new book of short stories offers variations on the theme of man’s desire to succeed.
See also: of, on, something, theme, variation
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a variation on the theme of (something)
  • theme
  • variations on the theme of something
  • a peg on which to hang (something)
  • a peg on which to hang something
  • a peg to hang (something) on
  • a peg to hang a matter on
  • a peg to hang something on
  • two-faced
  • surprise (one) with (something)
References in periodicals archive
Genetic variation - that is, accumulated mutations in the DNA - is the fuel for all evolutionary change: the more genetic variation, the faster evolution works and the more possibilities for novel adaptive solutions.
Of the 86 patients studied, 72 patients (83.7%) had at least one anatomical variation. In this study, 63 patients (73.25%) had DNS; 37.3% of patients had DNS to right, 32.5% had DNS to left and 3.5% had 'S' shaped DNS.
Variation in health care is not necessarily a problem.
This value is a ratio of variation due to the measurement error (repeatability and reproducibility) to total variation of the system, including both part and measurement variation (FIGURE 1).
This variation comes towards the end of what is essentially a contemplation of what it is to be human.
The report further said that out of the total of 92 provincial assembly constituencies, 72 showed a variation rate between 11 per cent and 20 per cent, nine constituencies showed a variation between 21 per cent and 30 per cent, seven constituencies showed variation between 31 per cent and 40 per cent, three showed a variation between 41 per cent and 50 per cent.
The die temperature at the discharge end varies about 4[degrees] C(7[degrees] F), and it would be tempting to conclude that the die-temperature variation is causing the tubing-temperature variation.
Substantial practice variation across physicians for seemingly similar patients is an unresolved puzzle of great interest to economists and policy makers.
The 11 essays in this collection examine language variation through usage and system-based approaches.
Of this piece, the composer says, "These five variations are on an original tune of two contrasting parts.
A MEDLINE search using "biological variation" as a keyword, over a 5-year period from Jan.
To the Editor.--We read with interest "Biological Variations of Hematologic Parameters Determined by UniCel DxH 800 Hematology Analyzer." (1) Most of the estimates of biologic variation of the common analytes reported by Zhang et al (1) were close to previously reported literature values.
Variation in health care spending; target decision making, not geography.
The results have shown that the three criteria may be used every time for tolerance analysis and to minimize variation propagations in the assembly of rigid circular structures.