月とすっぽん (Tsuki to suppon)

Meaning: Two things alike at a glance but worlds apart.

Language: Japanese

Literally: The moon and a snapping turtle

Category: Animals

Origin: Both are round, yet the radiant moon and a muddy turtle could not be more unequal — Japan's 'chalk and cheese'.

More idioms — Animals

• 一箭双雕 (Yī jiàn shuāng diāo) — To achieve two things with a single act.
• Att ha en räv bakom örat — To be cunning and sly.
• Mieć węża w kieszeni — To be very stingy.
• تمخض الجبل فولد فأرا (tamakhaḍa al-jabalu fa-walada fa'ran) — A huge fuss producing a tiny result.
• مرغ همسایه غاز است (morgh-e hamsāye ghāz ast) — The grass is always greener next door.
• A umbla cu cioara vopsită — To try to deceive people with falsehoods.

More Japanese idioms

• 石橋を叩いて渡る (Ishibashi o tataite wataru) — To be extremely, even excessively, cautious.
• 釘を刺す (kugi o sasu) — To remind someone firmly so they can't back out.
• 顔から火が出る (kao kara hi ga deru) — To burn with embarrassment.
• 猫の手も借りたい (Neko no te mo karitai) — I'm so busy I'll take help from anyone.
• 猿も木から落ちる (Saru mo ki kara ochiru) — Even experts make mistakes.
• 花より団子 (Hana yori dango) — Substance over style; practicality over beauty.

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