Hello teachers,
Is two pears in a pot similar (like) two of a kind?
Thank you.
Hello Hoado,
I looked it up in my dict and found the following:
to be like two peas in a pod having the meaning that two persons or animals or things look very similar
Hope that helps
Michael
Hello Michael,
Thank you so much for your feeback.
I also found on the Freedictionary online the following:
“two of a kind
Fig. people or things of the same type or that are similar in character, attitude, etc. Jack and Tom are two of a kind. They’re both ambitious. The companies are two of a kind. They both pay their employees badly.
two of a kind
very similar (like) two peas in a pod Where books are concerned, Tyler and Chloë are two of a kind.”
Relying on this, I think “two pears in a pot” means two persons or animals or things look very similar in the outside. However, “two of a kind” means two persons or animals or things are not only similar in the outside, but they are also similar in character, attitude, etc.
Hello teachers,
I am not sure about what I wrote in my message above about the difference between “two of a kind” and “two pears in a pot” that "I think “two pears in a pot” means two persons or animals or things look very similar in the outside. However, “two of a kind” means two persons or animals or things are not only similar in the outside, but they are also similar in character, attitude, etc… Please tell me if I am wrong.
Thank you.
Hello Hoado,
here in Germany there is a similar saying : They look alike like two eggs. or they equal each other like one egg the other. What usually means the appearance.
Anyway, my dictinary doesn´t offer a solution for your initial two pears in a pot. Albeit it´s a very alive one that is continuously improved by users and proficient drivers. Hence, it´s perhaps interesting to hear or read the whole context of the text where you have seen or heard it.
I also can imagine another meaning of it with a very special meaning. Perhaps …tuppence (two pence)… and …two pears in a pot… are …two peas in a pod…? I mean, since two peas in a pod can´t really satisfy huge hunger while two pence not really is much money…, Who knows?
I´m also interested in a native´s opinion on this.
Michael
Hello Michael,
It was good to know that you have a similar saying in Germany: “They look alike two eggs.” and “They equal each other like one egg the other.” In my country, we have a saying “They look alike two water drops.” It is interesting to see the similar descriptions in our languages, isn’t it?
You are very right about that we should hear or read the whole context of the text. Thank you for your reminder. I have read Alan’s essay “The language of number” again, and I think I got the meanings of both idioms. In the essay Alan used the idiom “two pears in a pot” to talk about the twin sisters and the idiom “two of a kind” to talk about two persons, but they were the same sort of person.