tomayto, tomahto

• tomato, tomato; tomayto tomahto

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 tomato (/təˈmeɪtə/) and I like tomato (/təˈmɑːtə/)".

• IPA^(key): /təˈmeɪtoʊ təˈmɑːtoʊ/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

tomayto, tomahto

1. (idiomatic) Used to dismiss a correction to one's adherence to an alternative standard.

   Synonym: potayto, potahto (from another line in the song)

   A: Then you hook the hose up to the bibcock, and you're done. B: You mean the sillcock. A: Tomayto, tomahto.

2. (idiomatic) Used to dismissively suggest that a particular distinction is a distinction without a difference; used to express the assertion that two similar things are effectively the same, despite any trivial difference.

   A: Then you revise the database record for that transaction, and you're done. B: You mean you replace the old record with a new one. A: Tomayto, tomahto.

   • 2009, N. B. Grace, Disney High School Musical: #1: Stories from East High Bind Up #1, Disney Press, →ISBN, page 78:

     "Tomayto, tomahto," she said, and Taylor laughed. So they ended on a good note.

   • 2014, C.E. Murphy, Shaman Rises, Harlequin, →ISBN, page 282:

     “I withheld truth, but I did not lie.” “Tomayto, tomahto.”

   • 2017, Cheryl Etchison, From the Start: An American Valor Novel, HarperCollins, →ISBN, page 15:

     “Okay, then, how about Michael?” “Tomayto, tomahto.” Kacie sighed in disappointment.