Pronunciation:
/póteɪtoʊ təˈmɑ təʊ/
Definitions:
1. (idiomatic) Used to suggest that two apparently similar things are actually different from each other.
2. (idiomatic) Used to admit that there is a distinction between two close things when the speaker previously maintained there was no distinction.
Etymology:
Uses American English and British English pronunciations of the words potato and tomato. Adaptation of the interchangeable sayings, “potato potahto” and “tomayto tomahto.” Parodied allusion to George Gershwin's song "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off": "You like tomatoes (/təˈmeɪtoʊz/) and I like tomatoes (/təˈmɑ toʊz/)".
Synonyms:
tomayto potahto
Antonyms:
potayto potahto, tomayto tomahto, same difference
/póteɪtoʊ təˈmɑ təʊ/
Definitions:
1. (idiomatic) Used to suggest that two apparently similar things are actually different from each other.
2. (idiomatic) Used to admit that there is a distinction between two close things when the speaker previously maintained there was no distinction.
Etymology:
Uses American English and British English pronunciations of the words potato and tomato. Adaptation of the interchangeable sayings, “potato potahto” and “tomayto tomahto.” Parodied allusion to George Gershwin's song "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off": "You like tomatoes (/təˈmeɪtoʊz/) and I like tomatoes (/təˈmɑ toʊz/)".
Synonyms:
tomayto potahto
Antonyms:
potayto potahto, tomayto tomahto, same difference
1. “What was in that burrito?”
“Aluminum foil”
“Wait... I asked what was ‘in’ it, not what was ‘on’ it.”
“Potayto tomahto”
“Aluminum foil”
“Wait... I asked what was ‘in’ it, not what was ‘on’ it.”
“Potayto tomahto”
by Clinton Brink November 1, 2017