Tweedledum and Tweedledee

[ tweed-l-duhm uhn tweed-l-dee ]

plural noun

1. two persons or things nominally different but practically the same; a nearly identical pair.

Tweedledum and Tweedledee

/ ˌtwiːdəlˈdʌm; ˌtwiːdəlˈdiː /

noun

1. any two persons or things that differ only slightly from each other; two of a kind

Tweedledum and Tweedledee

1. Fictional characters from Through the Looking-Glass, by Lewis Carroll . They are pictured as fat twins who are identical in speech, attitude, and appearance.

Notes

Figuratively, any two people or positions that have no real differences are said to be “like Tweedledum and Tweedledee.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tweedledum and Tweedledee¹

1715–25; humorous coinage, apparently first applied as nicknames to Giovanni Bononcini and Handel, with reference to their musical rivalry; tweedle

Word History and Origins

Origin of Tweedledum and Tweedledee¹

C19: from the proverbial names of Handel and the musician Buononcini, who were supported by rival factions though it was thought by some that there was nothing to choose between them. The names were popularized by Lewis Carroll's use of them in Through the Looking Glass (1872)

Idioms and Phrases

Two matters, persons, or groups that are very much alike, as in Bob says he's not voting in this election because the candidates are tweedledum and tweedledee . This term was invented by John Byrom, who in 1725 made fun of two quarreling composers, Handel and Bononcini, and said there was little difference between their music, since one went “tweedledum” and the other “tweedledee.” The term gained further currency when Lewis Carroll used it for two fat little men in Through the Looking-Glass (1872). For a synonym, see six of one , half dozen of the other .