much of a muchness
- idiom
- UK
:
es lo mismo
- The two proposals are much of a muchness; they offer essentially the same benefits.
Examples
-
Choosing between these two brands is really just a matter of preference, as they are both much of a muchness.
-
Gray trim with the gray roof would be much of a muchness.
Blog text (24) -
Much of a muchness.
Fiction book (1991) -
When it comes to quality, this model is much of a muchness compared to the previous one.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Very similar in kind or quality to another thing
359
1.0
Having very similar looks or qualities
4
6.0
A phrase people use to say two things do not matter
Completely the same in every detail
Antonyms
How Different
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase repeats the element 'much' and uses the nominalizing '-ness', so there is a visible morphological link to quantity, which gives a loose cue that things are 'of similar extent'. However, the idiomatic pattern 'much of a muchness' (chiefly British/informal) encodes the specific sense 'very little difference' in a way that is not directly or reliably derivable from the literal constituents; a B1 learner who knows the parts may still not infer the idiomatic comparative meaning without exposure.
Etymology
Much of a muchness may come from a playful use of the word much twice to show two things have the same amount or quality. That's why it means 'very similar' or 'there is very little difference'.