English

Some cheeses look superficially like chalk.

The surface of chalk may look like cheese, but it is actually harder than most cheeses.

Alternative forms

• like chalk and cheese

Adjective

different as chalk and cheese ‎(not comparable)

1. (Britain, New Zealand, simile) Two things that are different, particularly two things that are superficially alike but very different in substance.
   • 1393, John Gower, Confessio Amantis:

     And thus ful ofte chalk for cheese he changeth with ful littel cost

Synonyms

• apples and oranges

Translations

References

• "chalk and cheese", World Wide Words, Michael Quinion