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.