Learn English – meant by “same difference”

expressionsidioms

Unless you are comparing two different sets of items to then have a couple of differences and the differences are the same, I do not get it.

This would be analogous to: 12-9=3, 7-4=3. Here we have the same difference.

The problem is, I really don't think the average human is comparing two differences when using the term in question.

Best Answer

Same difference is an idiomatic oxymoron [Oxford Dictionary Online]. It effectively means

Whether these two choices are the same or different is immaterial to me.

SUPPLEMENT

The Urban Dictionary defines it as follows:

Another way of saying "whatever". It is often confused with "same thing", but you're really saying "OK, I admit that they're not the same thing, but they're not different enough for me to really care about it."

The Cambridge Idioms Dictionary defines it as

the difference between two things is not important

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