oranges with oranges

English

Noun

oranges with oranges pl (plural only)

1. (rare, idiomatic) Synonym of apples to apples
   • 1940, United States, Temporary National Economic Committee, Verbatim Record of the Proceedings, Volume 10, page 612:

     I think you are right in saying it was comparing oranges with oranges or apples with apples.

   • 1959, United States, Congress, House, Committee on Ways and Means, Advisory Group Recommendations on Subchapters C, J, and K of the Internal Revenue Code Hearings Before the Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives, Eighty-sixth Congress, First Session on Advisory Group Recommendations on Subchapters C, J, and K of the Internal Revenue Code, February 24, 25, 26, 27, March 2, 3, and 4, 1959, page 659:

     In other words, we suggest comparing lemons with lemons and oranges with oranges rather than as the advisory group proposal does, lemons with oranges.

   • 2014, Georg Northoff, Unlocking the Brain, Volume 1: Coding, page 156:

     If one wants to compare intentions and movements with each other, one, metaphorically speaking, compares apples with oranges rather than apples with apples and oranges with oranges.