chalk and cheese
(Redirected from unlike as chalk and cheese)
English
editAlternative forms
editEtymology
editAttested in variant form since 1393. The surface of some cheeses, particularly unaged ones, looks similar to chalk – white, crumbling – but in substance cheese is much softer than chalk.
Interesting to note that lime chalk and cottage cheese forms a glue-like material used in the restoration of ancient half-timbered houses, perhaps suggesting an alternative original meaning.
Pronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file)
Noun
editchalk and cheese (uncountable)
- (British, New Zealand, idiomatic) Said of things that are very different, though possibly superficially alike.
Synonyms
editTranslations
editthings that are very different
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References
edit- "chalk and cheese", World Wide Words, Michael Quinion