"That's comparing apples to oranges."

[scottcsmith]

I never understood the "comparing apples to oranges" rule. When you stop and think about it, it's easy to compare apples and oranges:

-- both are fruit.
-- both grow on trees.
-- both are picked from trees.
-- both are sources of natural vitams and are also a source of phytochemicals, which may help prevent disease.
-- both have an outer skin that can be peeled off.
-- both can be round.
-- both are low in fat.

I'm sure there are more comparisons.

[parasim]

1. I always assumed it had to do with taste

and the fact that an orange is a citrus fruit.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

2. When you get a good solid hit on either one with a baseball

bat, they sort of explode too.

[Cleita]

3. Cats and dogs.

Both are pets
Both are mammals
Both have fangs and fur
Both are predators

But you would never mistake a dog for a cat would you? Unless it's a Yorky.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. The phrase would be better

if the two things weren't so similar, you're right. Apples and oranges, while not the same thing, are awfully similar, and the phrase is used to mean "you're comparing things that aren't alike at all".

So it would be better to say it's like comparing apples and injection molded fully posable action figures, or like comparing oranges and sublimation.