1.
much the same; about the same; six of one, half a dozen of the other
Used when two or more things are so similar that there is no meaningful difference between them. Often implies that none of the options is particularly good.
どちらも似たり寄ったりだ。
They're both much the same.
値段はどの店も似たり寄ったりだった。
The prices were about the same at every store.
候補者の主張はどれも似たり寄ったりで、違いがわからなかった。
The candidates' positions were all much the same, and I couldn't tell the difference.
Combines 似たり (being similar) and 寄ったり (being close), reinforcing the idea of near-identical similarity. The たり form of both verbs creates a rhythmic, set expression.
USAGE:
Often carries a slightly dismissive or negative nuance — implying that none of the options stands out or that they are all equally mediocre. Used as a predicate with だ or as a modifier with の.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- どれも似たり寄ったり — they're all much the same
- 似たり寄ったりの結果 — similar results
- 似たり寄ったりの内容 — similar content
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 大同小異 — much the same with minor differences (more formal, literary)
- 五十歩百歩 — pot calling the kettle black; equally bad (stronger negative nuance)
- 同じようなもの — about the same thing (plain, neutral)