Dictionary

tomayto, tomahto en · X

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio
• /təˈmeɪtoʊ təˈmɑːtoʊ/

Etymology

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/)".

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) Used to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard.
   • A: Then you hook the hose up to the bibcock, and you're done. B: You mean the sillcock. A: Tomayto, tomahto.
2. (idiomatic) Used to dismissively suggest that a particular distinction is a distinction without a difference; used to express the assertion that two similar things are effectively the same, despite any trivial difference.
   • A: Then you revise the database record for that transaction, and you're done. B: You mean you replace the old record with a new one. A: Tomayto, tomahto.
   • "Tomayto, tomahto," she said, and Taylor laughed. So they ended on a good note. 2009, N. B. Grace, Disney High School Musical: #1: Stories from East High Bind Up #1, Disney Press, →ISBN, page 78:
   • “I withheld truth, but I did not lie.” “Tomayto, tomahto.” 2014, C.E. Murphy, Shaman Rises, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 282:
   • “Okay, then, how about Michael?” “Tomayto, tomahto.” Kacie sighed in disappointment. 2017, Cheryl Etchison, From the Start: An American Valor Novel, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 15:

Forms

Synonyms

potayto, potahto

Translations (27)

ru тво́рог, творо́г (to dismiss an alternative standard) · sv hipp som happ (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · pt tanto faz como tanto fez (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · hu egyre megy (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · fa چه کچل حسن، چه حسن کچل (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · bg не е врат, ами шия (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · cs prašť jako uhoď (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · hu egyik tizenkilenc, másik egy híján húsz (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · az ya keçəl Həsən, ya Həsən keçəl (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · fi mitä väliä (to dismiss an alternative standard) · fr bonnet blanc, blanc bonnet (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · sh није шија него врат (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · sv hipp som happ (to dismiss an alternative standard) · el όχι Γιάννης, Γιαννάκης (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · de gehüpft wie gesprungen (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · sh nije šija nego vrat (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · bg не по врат, а по шия (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · arz أحمد زي الحج أحمد (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · fr blanc bonnet, bonnet blanc (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · ru что́ в ло́б, что́ по́ лбу (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · sv hipp som happ (to express two similar things being exactly the same, when they are slightly different) · uk чи в камінь головою, чи каменем у голову (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · hu egyik kutya, másik eb (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · gd bò mhaol odhar agus bò odhar mhaol (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · pl jak zwał, tak zwał (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · aeb الحاج موسى، موسى الحاج (to suggest a distinction without a difference) · pl ziemniaki, kartofle, pyry (to dismiss an alternative standard)

wikipedia: George Gershwin · wikipedia: Let's Call the Whole Thing Off