Same Difference

Dave:

December 29th, 2012 at 10:15 am

I think of it as comparing 2 things from 2 perspectives, 1 from A perspective, and 1 from B perspective, if 2 things are different (A and B) then they are both different in the same way from both perspectives (A is 2 more than B in A’s perspective, and A is still 2 more than B in B’s perspective, of course, B can be 2 less than A in A’s perspective, but then B will still be 2 less in B’s perspective, they are equally different from both perspectives, because neither of them changes)

Bob Harris:

September 21st, 2015 at 10:00 am

In addition to the 1945 appearance in text, the expression is used in the 1946 movie Dark Alibi. It is spoken by the main character, Charlie Chan, at the end of the movie.

The movie was recently shown on TCM, and may be available for view at their website. It’s pretty awful.

Robert Karlsson:

July 25th, 2016 at 6:54 pm

The different definitions of “Same Difference” really bugs me.

Personally i have always thought it fit this description:
Man 1: Wow you bought a red car?
Man 2: Actually it’s maroon.
Man 1: Same Difference.

Meaning: When you agree that what you said was not exactly correct, but you think the difference is not important.
(Cambridge Dictionary – British)

Or: OK, I admit that they’re not the same thing, but they’re not different enough for me to really care about it.
(Urban Dictionary – Global)

Or: The difference between two things is not important.
(Cambridge Idioms Dictionary – British)

And actually while writing this comment i think i cleared up why there are different definition of “Same Difference”, maybe?

Here’s the other definition:
Man 1: Either he’s a genius or he’s crazy, same difference.

Meaning: The same thing.
(Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms – America)

Or: The same, no difference at all.
(McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms – American)

Or: No difference at all, the same thing.
(The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms – America)

So.. See the factor which might explain why there are two opposing definitions of the same phrase? It’s Britain Vs. America.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest use of the phrase in print found so far is from 1945, in a book titled “I Am Gazing Into My 8-Ball” by the legendary New York gossip columnist Earl Wilson.

So apparently it originated in written form in America, so why did it change meaning when transferred to Britain? Anyone up for trying to explain? Of course it might have been spoken earlier in either America or Britain, who knows?

Either way, even though it originated in writing in America, i prefer the British definition. Because same and different are words with substantially opposite meanings, when used together form an internally contradictory concept. That’s why i have trouble defining it as “same thing” which is a grammatically correct. Who agrees?

No, thanks.:

April 6th, 2018 at 4:23 am

It sparked from the saying “same thing.” People get bored with phrases and want to mix it up to suit their own fancy. It’s something that humans do to amuse themselves, it’s pointless to do, and it’s pointless to argue.

john:

March 15th, 2020 at 10:45 am

I think the expression “same difference” is illogical and should be done away with. Perhaps the original use was for comedic effect, or to attract attention to some issue by using novel language. It may be colloquial and have gained traction, but that is no excuse for continuing to use it, the same way that “ain’t” and “irregardless” have found their way into our language but they’re just not a great way to say things. In a mathematical sense, it has some value (7-2=5 and 10-5=5; “same difference”), but otherwise if all this means is “the two things are the same” then it is confusing and wordy. One could say “same thing” and save 50% of the syllables and avoid potential confusion. But yes, it seems to be engrained in the lexicon at this point.

Brad:

October 7th, 2020 at 9:04 am

Same Difference