by Super Steve October 31, 2003
The saying originated from the 1937 song Let's Call the Whole Thing Off by George and Ira Gershwin. In the song, the two pronounciations of "tomato" are compared: "tuh-may-toe" and "tuh-mah-toe". When people say "tomato tomahto" they say both pronounciations, as they were compared in the song.
by CelticEagle February 21, 2019
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
by ihatemugslol May 4, 2021