| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| | | Chalk and Cheese. | | |
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I know the difference between chalk and cheese. Between what is worthless and what is valuable, between a counterfeit and a real article. Of course, the resemblance of chalk to cheese has something to do with the saying, and the alliteration helps to popularise it. | 1 |
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“This Scotch scarecrow was no more to be compared to him than chalk was to cheese”—Sir W. Scott: Woodstock, xxiv. |
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I cannot make chalk of one and cheese of the other. I must treat both alike; I must show no favouritism. | 2 |
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They are no more like than chalk is like cheese. There may be a slight apparent resemblance, but there is no real likeness. | 3 |
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