tomayto, tomahto

See also: tomayto tomahto

English

Alternative forms

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 tomatoes (/təˈmeɪtoʊz/) and I like tomatoes (/təˈmɑːtoʊz/)".

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /təˈmeɪtoʊ təˈmɑːtəʊ/

Phrase

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
    • 2008, N. B. Grace, Disney's High School Musical: Stories from East High #1: Battle of the Bands, page 78:
      "Tomayto, tomahto," she said, and Taylor laughed. So they ended on a good note.

Translations

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