Poles apart

Meaning

"Poles apart" is an idiom that means two or more things are completely different, opposite or not related to each other at all. It describes a complete separation between two or more things. For example, "Their personalities were poles apart, one was outgoing and extroverted while the other was shy and introverted."

Usage

• The new policy and the old one are poles apart, they have completely different approaches to the problem.
• Despite being brothers, their interests were poles apart, one loved music while the other preferred sports.
• The city's skyline before and after the construction of the tallest building in the world are poles apart.
• The technology used by the old and new generation of smartphones are poles apart, with the old one relying on physical buttons and the new one using touchscreens.
• The two neighbors who had never spoken to each other were finally introduced, only to find out that their hobbies were poles apart, one was a gardener while the other was a musician.

Roots and History

The origin of "poles apart" is unclear, but it may have been derived from the idea of two opposite ends of the earth being far apart. The first known use of this idiom can be traced back to 1658 in the English language. Over time, the usage of the idiom has remained relatively consistent, with its figurative meaning being widely understood and used in contemporary language.

Synonyms in English

• Totally different or opposite
• Completely unrelated
• Incomparable
• Contrasting
• Opposite ends of the spectrum

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - "por completo" (completely)
• French - "fortement opposé" (strongly opposed)
• German - "gegenübergestellt" (opposed)
• Italian - "in opposta estrema" (in opposite extremes)
• Russian - "в противоречии" (in opposition)

Similar Idioms

• diamond in the rough

• neck and neck

• back against the wall