Wiktionary

tomayto, tomahto

See also: tomayto tomahto

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Uses the American English and British English pronunciations of the word tomato. Allusion to George Gershwin's song "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off": "You like tomato (/təˈmeɪtə/) and I like tomato (/təˈmɑːtə/)".

Pronunciation

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Phrase

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tomayto, tomahto

  1. (idiomatic) Used to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard.
  2. (idiomatic) Used to dismissively suggest that something is a distinction without a difference.
  3. (idiomatic) Used to express two similar things being exactly the same, when they are slightly different.
    • 2009, N. B. Grace, Disney High School Musical: #1: Stories from East High Bind Up #1, Disney Press, →ISBN, page 78:
      "Tomayto, tomahto," she said, and Taylor laughed. So they ended on a good note.
    • 2014, C.E. Murphy, Shaman Rises, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 282:
      “I withheld truth, but I did not lie.” “Tomayto, tomahto.”
    • 2017, Cheryl Etchison, From the Start: An American Valor Novel, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 15:
      “Okay, then, how about Michael?” “Tomayto, tomahto.” Kacie sighed in disappointment.

Translations

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