tomato tomato

English

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/)".

Alternative forms

• tomato, tomato
• tomayto, tomahto; tomayto tomahto
• potato, potahto (from another line in the song)

Pronunciation

• IPA: təˈmeɪtoʊ təˈmɑːtəʊ

Phrase

tomato tomato

1. (idiomatic) Uses insignificant pronunciation difference to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard
2. (idiomatic) Used to dismissively suggest that something is a difference without a distinction