tweedledum

tweedledee and tweedledum

Any two people very similar in appearance, manner, or behavior, especially those who are or act particularly oafish or foolish. A reference to the names of two fictional twins in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. It's a wonder we have any nice things at all with tweedledee and tweedledum over there running around the house knocking into everything. Most of the world sees our two countries as tweedledee and tweedledum, but we generally hate being lumped in with our boorish neighbors to the south.
See also: and, tweedledee, tweedledum
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

tweedledum and tweedledee

Two matters, persons, or groups that are very much alike, as in Bob says he's not voting in this election because the candidates are tweedledum and tweedledee . This term was invented by John Byrom, who in 1725 made fun of two quarreling composers, Handel and Bononcini, and said there was little difference between their music, since one went "tweedledum" and the other "tweedledee." The term gained further currency when Lewis Carroll used it for two fat little men in Through the Looking-Glass (1872). For a synonym, see six of one, half dozen of the other.
See also: and, tweedledee, tweedledum
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

tweedledum and tweedledee

Not much difference between these alternatives; same as six of one and half a dozen of the other. These actually were two names invented by John Byrom, who was satirizing two quarreling schools of musicians. Byrom (and others) claimed there was not much difference between Handel and Bononcini—one’s music went “tweedledum” and the other’s “tweedledee”—and wrote an amusing verse to this effect for the London Journal (June 1725). Lewis Carroll’s use of the names for two fat little men in his Through the Looking-Glass (1872) helped the term to survive.
See also: and, tweedledee, tweedledum
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • tweedledee
  • tweedledee and tweedledum
  • tweedledum and tweedledee
  • numbnuts
  • lardhead
  • musclehead
  • meathead
  • a fool and his money are soon parted
  • fool and his money are soon parted, a
  • parted
References in periodicals archive
The only moment at which a trace of the phrase "only a dream" appears in these texts is during Alice's conversation with Tweedledum in Looking-Glass.
Introduction; Through the Looking-Glass
Perot's initial vertiginous rise to popularity as a candidate, due for the most part to how he presented to the public his anti-globalist position as exemplified by his opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), shrank almost as fast as his dictatorial, biased and egocentric pre-election decisions cut down his popularity from being at par with the Tweedledum and Tweedledee candidates (Clinton and Bush Sr.) to half of that at election time.
Remembering Perot: Last Chance for Americans against Globalization
And even though we were known as tweedledum and tweedledee (names that have become synonymous in Western popular culture slang for any two people who look and act in identical ways), our friendship was not exclusive, but one that flourished even more as our circle of friends increased.
Best friends allow us to be who we are
Written by Jim Foggin, the new adaptation sticks closely to the book but has a few extra elements thrown in, including weird twins Tweedledum and Tweedledee, who have been drafted in from Through the Looking Glass.
Off the Ground follows Alice straight down the rabbit hole; LDP arts edited by Laura Davis
The glowing, eccentric, extremely detailed retro-colored illustrations shed a gentle patina of their own on beloved rhymes such as "Rock-a-bye, baby," and "Tweedledum and Tweedledee." "Humpty Dumpty and Friends" will share its charm with children and adults who love and care for them and bring new life to beloved old rhymes for coming generations.
Humpty Dumpty and Friends
CHERYL Cole has nicknamed fellow judges Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh "Tweedledum and Tweedledee" after the comical Alice in Wonderland twins.
XTREME MEASURES; Cowell's staff wanted free flights
Rethinking Lewis Carroll, I realized he was one of the Tweedle brothers, whether Tweedledum or Tweedledee was hard to determine.
Justice Scalia
From the first scene of the "Merry Unbirthday" party, which has Mickey swiping the Mad Hatter's hat and leading to a wild and wacky chase including Alice in Wonderland, the White Rabbit, and Tweedledee and Tweedledum, to the "Aloha Adventure" with Lilo and Stitch joining Mickey and the gang on their Hawaiian holiday, the numbers are loaded with eye-catching costumes, impressive choreography, and spectacular special effects.
Disney Ice kingdom still an enchanting adventure
Somewhat more difficult, "Tweedledum and Tweedledee's" aggressive tempo and character begins in D minor.
Scenes from Alice in Wonderland, Opus 50
In the fourth chapter of Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871), Alice's journey across the chessboard takes her to a pair of figures standing so still that she initially thinks they're statues: the brothers Tweedledum and Tweedledee, already familiar to her from a nursery rhyme.
Introduction: "If you think we're alive, you ought to speak"
Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Come see the circus, folks, the Greatest Show on Earth, the only show in town.
The party should be over for the two-party system
In this case the characters reminding us of Thatcher's wealthy Good Samaritan are the Tweedledum and Tweedledee-like Welsh brothers, Charles and Ned Cheeryble.
REVIEW: Brilliant, vivid and absorbing; The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Part 2 Birmingham Hippodrome ****
"To conflate the two as Tweedledee and Tweedledum was politically idiotic," Gitlin says.
An Unreasonable Man
Just as well someone is getting on with the work, while Tweedledum and Tweedledee fight it out with their pots and pans at Westminster.
Good sense a casualty in NHS row
However, the candidates themselves are separated more by style than by ideology --not unlike previous presidential elections when the American people were offered a choice between a Republican 'Tweedledee' and Democrat 'Tweedledum.'"
George W. Bush is no conservative