Differences (redirected from Differences (song))

dif·fer·ence  (dfr-ns, dfrns)

n.

1. The quality or condition of being unlike or dissimilar.

2.

a. An instance of disparity or unlikeness.

b. A degree or amount by which things differ.

c. A specific point or element that distinguishes one thing from another.

3. A noticeable change or effect: Exercise has made a difference in her health.

4.

a. A disagreement or controversy.

b. A cause of a disagreement or controversy.

5. Discrimination in taste or choice; distinction.

6. Mathematics

a. The amount by which one quantity is greater or less than another.

b. The amount that remains after one quantity is subtracted from another.

7. Archaic A distinct mark or peculiarity.

tr.v. dif·fer·enced, dif·fer·enc·ing, dif·fer·enc·es

To distinguish or differentiate.

Synonyms: difference, dissimilarity, unlikeness, divergence, variation, distinction, discrepancy
These nouns refer to a lack of correspondence or agreement. Difference is the most general: differences in color and size; a difference of opinion.
Dissimilarity is difference between things otherwise alike or comparable: a dissimilarity between the twins' personalities.
Unlikeness usually implies greater and more obvious difference: unlikeness among their teaching styles.
Divergence suggests an increasing difference: points of divergence between British and American English.
Variation occurs between things of the same class or species; often it refers to modification of something original, prescribed, or typical: variations in temperature; a variation in shape.
Distinction often means a difference in detail determinable only by close inspection: the distinction between "good" and "excellent."
A discrepancy is a difference between things that should correspond or match: a discrepancy between his words and his actions.

---

Differences 

1. Alike as the gap between Little League and Major League —Anon
2. Alike as an oil portrait and a polaroid snapshot —Anon
3. Alike as a cliche and a sonnet —Rod MacLeish, National Public Radio, December 29, 1986

   In his obituary on mystery writer John MacDonald, MacLeish used the simile to point out the difference between MacDonald’s Travis McGee character with Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe.

4. Alike as a mom and pop grocery store and a multi-national corporation —Anon
5. Alike as an abacus and a computer —Anon
6. Alike as an elephant and a giraffe —Anon
7. Alike as grains of sand —Anon
8. Alike as human faces —Anon
9. Alike as six pebbles on the beach —Eudora Welty
10. Alike as the gap between doing a gig at a neighborhood wedding and being on prime time TV —Anon
11. Alike as an apple is to a lobster —John Ray’s Proverbs

    A variation on the same theme, also from John Ray’s Proverbs is “As alike as an apple is to an oyster.” Other entries in this section merely hint at the endless twists possible.

12. As like this as a crab’s like an apple —William Shakespeare

    Here we have the above simile turned around, with the apple the comparison.

13. (In this world it is rarely possible to settle matters with an “either, or,” since there are) as many gradations of emotion and conduct as there are stages between a hooked nose and one that turns up —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
14. Different as a moonbeam from lightning, as frost from fire —Emily Brontë
15. (You and I are as) different as chalk and cheese —John Ray’s Proverbs
16. Opposite as yea and nay —Francis Quarles
17. (Two faces) different as hot and cold —Dannie Abse
18. Different as three men singing the same chorus from three men playing three tunes on the same piano —G. K. Chesterton
19. Different as yin from yang —Harry Prince
20. Everything has in fact another side to it, like the moon —G. K. Chesterton
21. Sharply defined as salt and pepper —Anon
22. The difference between vivacity and wit is the same as the difference between the lightning-bug and lightning —Josh Billings
23. Various as the fancies of men in pursuit of a wife —James Ralph