English Explanatory Dictionary

tomayto, tomahto

English dictionary entry

Meanings

phrase
  1. Used to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard.
  2. 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.

Pronunciation

/təˈmeɪtoʊ təˈmɑːtoʊ/ En-au-tomayto, tomahto.ogg

Word forms

tomayto, tomahto tomato, tomato tomayto tomahto

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/)".

Synonyms

potayto, potahto
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