“Chalk and Cheese” Meaning, Origin and Examples

Last updated on October 9, 2024 by Liam Daniel

If you have ever heard the common expression ‘chalk and cheese’ during English conversation, you may have wondered what it means. We are going to take a look at how this phrase can be used, where it came from, and what the meaning behind it is.

“Chalk and Cheese” Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • The phrase “chalk and cheese” refers to two things or people that are completely different from each other, often in an incompatible or contrasting way. It’s commonly used to emphasize the significant differences between two things that might be expected to be similar, but are not.
Chalk and Cheese
Chalk and Cheese – Created by 7ESL

“Chalk and Cheese” Meaning

The phrase “chalk and cheese” is used to describe two things or people that are fundamentally different or dissimilar from each other. It emphasizes the stark contrast between the two, indicating that they are as unlike each other as chalk is to cheese.

Examples:

  • “They’re like chalk and cheese; one is very serious while the other is always joking around.”
  • “The two proposals are chalk and cheese; there’s no way we can compare them.”

Origin of this Idiom

The term ‘chalk and cheese’ was first written in a text by John Gower, way back in 1390 and it appeared as ‘ Lo, how they feignen chalk and chese.’ Of course, this was written in a very old style of English and has since evolved with the language over time.

Usage of “Chalk and Cheese”

  • Talking about siblings:

“My brother and I are like chalk and cheese—he loves sports, while I’m more into reading.”

  • Describing personalities:

“Though they’re best friends, their personalities are chalk and cheese. One is spontaneous, and the other is a planner.”

  • In a relationship context:

“They may be a couple, but they’re chalk and cheese when it comes to their interests—he loves the outdoors, and she prefers staying in.”

  • Referring to work styles:

“Their approaches to solving problems are like chalk and cheese—she’s methodical, while he’s more creative and free-spirited.”

Related Terms to “Chalk and Cheese”

  • Night and day – indicating a stark contrast between two things.
  • Apples and oranges – highlighting that two things are so different that they cannot be compared.
  • Polar opposites – referring to two people or things that are completely different from each other.
  • Black and white – representing a clear distinction or difference, often in opinions or situations.
  • Different as night and day – emphasizing a significant difference between two items or people.
  • Worlds apart – indicating that two things are very different or far removed from each other.
  • At odds – describing a state of disagreement or difference between people or ideas.
  • Mismatched – referring to two things that do not go together well due to their differences.
  • Like oil and water – expressing that two entities do not mix or get along due to their contrasting nature.
  • Dissimilar – a straightforward term indicating that two things are not alike.

Other Ways to Say the Phrase

There are a lot of ways you might express the idiomatic term ‘chalk and cheese.’ Here are a few examples of how you can show the same meaning but with different wording.

  • They’re like night and day
  • Totally incompatible
  • They’re from different planets
  • Apples and oranges
  • Night and day
  • Fundamentally different

“Chalk and Cheese” Examples

Example Sentences

You would be likely to use this term to describe two people who get along but are completely different in their personalities. You might say something along the lines of

  • ‘John and Mary get along so well but I’m surprised since they are like chalk and cheese.’

You could also use it to refer to a reason why two people do not get along with one another, for example you might say something like

  • ‘John and Mary cannot stand to be in the same room as one another, they always end up arguing because their opinions are so different, they’re just like chalk and cheese.‘

Other examples:

  • They’re like chalk and cheese , those two.
  • My brother and I are like chalk and cheese.
  • Frank and I will never get along. We’re chalk and cheese.
  • We are very aware of our differences, we accept that we are chalk and cheese.
  • They look alike but they’re as different as chalk and cheese.
  • I suppose we are not as different as chalk and cheese.

Conversation Examples

You might use the term ‘chalk and cheese’ in many different conversations, here are some examples of how it can be used.

Conversation 1:

  • Person 1: “I am really enjoying spending time with you.”
  • Person 2: “Me too. I didn’t think we would have this much fun considering we are so much like chalk and cheese.”

Conversation 2:

  • Person 1: “Did you enjoy your time with Michael yesterday?”
  • Person 2: “Not at all, we had nothing to talk about, we are like chalk and cheese.”
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