- Home
- Idioms
- difference
difference
all the difference in the world
The greatest degree of difference that is possible or conceivable. Without the verbs "mean" or "make," it is used to compare two disparate things. There's all the difference in the world between knowing how to play and actually performing on the field. I was sympathetic at first, but finding out you didn't even study for the test makes all the difference in the world. You're grounded!
dime's worth of difference
A miniscule, insignificant, or indiscernible amount of difference. Often used in the negative for extra emphasis. There isn't a dime's worth of difference between the two candidates—they're both crooks, in my opinion. You can holler all you like, it won't make a dime's worth of difference.
what's the difference
1. How do these things differ? Said in this way, the phrase is a legitimate question that the speaker wants answered. What's the difference between these two recipes? They use the exact same ingredients and everything. What's the difference between all these cell phones?
2. What does it matter? Said in this way, the phrase is usually an aside highlighting the speaker's frustration. We can take the long way home, or we can sit in traffic here. Both ways will take forever, so what's the difference? What's the difference if I come home on Friday night or Saturday morning? You guys will be asleep either way!
a world of difference
1. A stark contrast. There's a world of difference between high school classes and college classes.
2. A vast improvement. A fresh coat of paint has made a world of difference in that old house.
(It) makes no difference to me.
and (It) makes me no difference.; (It) makes me no nevermind.; (It) don't make me no nevermind.Inf. I really do not care, one way or the other. (The first one is standard, the others are colloquial.) Bill: Mind if I sit here? Tom: Makes no difference to me. Bill: What would you say if I ate the last piece of cake? Bob: Don't make me no nevermind.
make a difference in someone or something
to cause a noticeable change in someone or something. Getting a job made a big difference in my lifestyle. His mother's death made a difference in his attitude toward doctors.
make a difference to someone
[for one choice or another] to matter to someone. The big one or the little one—does it really make a difference to anyone? It makes quite a difference to me!
make no difference (to someone)
[for a choice] not to matter to someone. (Any is used with negative nouns or verbs.) Pick whom you like. It makes no difference to me. It doesn't make any difference to me. Nothing much makes any difference to them anymore.
same difference
the same; no difference at all. Pink, fuchsia, what does it matter? Same difference. Whether you go or I go, it's the same difference.
split the difference
to divide the difference evenly (with someone else). You want to sell for $120, and I want to buy for $100. Let's split the difference and close the deal at $110. I don't want to split the difference. I want $120.
tell the difference between (someone and someone else) (or something and something else)
to recognize the things that distinguish people or things. I can't tell the difference between Billy and Bobby. Sam can't tell the difference between Granny Smith and Royal Gala apples.
What difference does it make?
Does it really matter?; Does it cause any trouble? What if I choose to leave home? What difference does it make? So Jane dropped out of the club. What difference does it make?
difference of opinion
a disagreement My father and I had our differences of opinion about the war.
make a difference
to have an effect
It is exciting to do something that really makes a difference in your community. People don't realize that their vote can make a difference. Usage notes: often used in the form make no difference: It makes no difference to me if the game is televised or not.
make all the difference (in the world)
to have an important effect make a world of difference Our team has a fine coach, and that makes all the difference.
same difference
(spoken) the same thing Either he's a genius or he's crazy – same difference, really.
split the difference
1. to accept only part of what was originally wanted
When they don't agree, she's always trying to get them to split the difference so everyone will be happy. Related vocabulary:
meet somebody halfway 2. to each pay half of an amount I told the owners that we could split the difference between their price and my offer.
make a world of difference
to have an important effect make all the difference (in the world) Some food, some milk, and some warmth made a world of difference to the small stray cat. The rains made a world of difference to worried farmers.
make all the difference
if something makes all the difference, it has a very good effect on a thing or a situation It's that little bit of salt that you add to the dressing - it makes all the difference. (often + to ) Working with a nice bunch of people can make all the difference to your job.
Same difference.
something that you say which means that the difference between two things is not important They were married for forty years, or was it thirty? Same difference - it was a long time anyway.
a world of difference
1. if there is a world of difference between two people or things, they are very different (usually + between ) There's a world of difference between seeing a film on video and seeing it in the cinema.
2. if something makes a world of difference, it improves something very much A little sympathy makes a world of difference to someone who's been badly treated.
make a difference
1. Distinguish or discriminate. This phrase appears in the Bible (Leviticus 11:47): "To make a difference between the unclean and the clean." [Late 1500s]
2. Also, make the difference. Cause a change in effect, change the nature of something, as in His score on this test will make the difference between passing and failing, or These curtains sure make a difference in the lighting.
3. Be important, matter, as in Her volunteer work made a difference in many lives. The antonym of this usage is make no difference, as in It makes no difference to me if we go immediately or in an hour. This usage appeared long ago in slightly different versions. Miles Coverdale's translation of the Bible of 1535 had it is no difference, and the converse, it makes great difference, was first recorded about 1470.
same difference
No difference at all, the same thing, as in She's my sister, or stepsister-same difference. This jocular colloquial phrase dates from about 1940.
split the difference
Compromise between two close figures, divide the remainder equally. For example, You're asking $5,000 for the car and I'm offering $4,000; let's split the difference and make it $4,500 . [c. 1700]
same difference
n. the same; no difference at all. Pink, fuchsia, what does it matter? Same difference.
split the difference
To take half of a disputed amount as a compromise.
Common Names:
| Name | Gender | Pronounced | Usage |
|---|
| CÁRthach | | - | Irish |
| Kali | | KAH-lee (Hinduism) | Hinduism, Bengali, Tamil |
| Eutimio | | - | Spanish, Italian |
| Margot | | mar-GO | French |
| Marcia | | MAHR-shə (English), MAHR-see-ə (English), MAHR-thyah (Spanish), MAHR-syah (Latin American Spanish) | English, Spanish, Ancient Roman |
| Tom (2) | | - | Hebrew |