Search
much of a muchness
01
(of two or more things) very similar to one another
What is the origin of the idiom "much of a muchness" and when to use it?
The idiom "much of a muchness" originated in the early 18th century as a colloquial expression in Britain. It is a phrase used to convey that two or more things or options are very similar or virtually indistinguishable from one another. The phrase is mainly used to imply that there is not much difference in quality, value, or significance between the options being compared, suggesting that they are essentially the same or equal in essence.
Example
When it comes to fast food chains, they are all much of a muchness - they offer similar menus and quality.
The two smartphones had similar features and performance, so choosing between them was much of a muchness.
Whether you take the bus or the train, the commute time is much of a muchness - they both take about the same duration.
The books in that genre tend to be much of a muchness, with predictable plots and characters.
