same difference

English

Etymology

Blend of same (thing) +‎ (no) difference, which incidentally continues to make logical sense.

Pronunciation
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Noun

same difference

  1. (idiomatic) A distinction which makes no difference; a distinction which does not matter.
    Synonym: distinction without a difference
    • 2011, Constance Briscoe, The Accused, →ISBN, page 274:
      "When you say she was a tart, do you mean a whore?"
      "It's the same difference," Betty said.

Usage notes
  • Often used in a grammatically incomplete form, as a pro-sentence, meaning "That is a distinction which makes no significant difference." For example:
2000 July 31, Lev Grossman, “Report From MacWorld Expo”, in Time:
Apple as a company has been as much about design as about technology. Is it in danger of putting form ahead of function? Same difference, says Jobs.

See also
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