tell the difference

phrase

: to see how two or more people or things are unlike each other

It's hard to tell the difference between one action movie and another.

The new version is supposed to be much better than the old one, but I can't tell the difference (between them).

Examples of tell the difference in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

People can tell the difference between a leader who is kind and a leader who is simply avoiding conflict. — Steven Gonzalez, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

The best way to tell the difference is to slice the morel in half the long way to get a cross-section view. — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 6 Aug. 2026

The goal is to help consumers tell the difference between a date that refers to food quality and one that is intended to promote food safety. — Leeann Weintraub, Oc Register, 25 July 2026

On some level, most can tell the difference between what applies to us and is a reasonable measure for our kids’ safety and what is not. — Dr. Edith Bracho-Sanchez, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Rhymes for tell the difference

• indifference