tell the difference

idiom

: to see how two or more people or things are unlike each other

It's hard to tell the difference between one action movie and another.

The new version is supposed to be much better than the old one, but I can't tell the difference (between them).

Examples of tell the difference in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Learning how to have productive conversations The week before Thanksgiving, Sandler's students role-played scenarios like how to have a productive discussion with someone who doesn't believe the truth and how to tell the difference between fact and opinion. —

Cait Bladt, CBS News, 28 Nov. 2024 Guests won’t even be able to tell the difference between fresh-off-the-stovetop potatoes and the same creamy version made days in advance. —

Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024 Why gratitude, humility, and kindness matter in professional growth When leaders prioritize genuine appreciation over recognition for recognition's sake, their teams can tell the difference. —

Allbusiness, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 Planetary scientists can't tell the difference between Vega and Fomalhaut. —

Jamie Carter, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tell the difference

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“Tell the difference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20the%20difference. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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