Meaning of “As Alike as Two Peas in a Pod”
This phrase “as alike as two peas in a pod” means that two things are identical. They have no or very minute difference. It is often said about fraternal twins or things which are similar in shapes. The phrase is also used for friends or people who have similar likes and dislikes or do everything together like dressing similarly, eating the same food, and having the same interests.
Origin of “As Alike as Two Peas in a Pod”
The origin of this phrase “as alike as two peas in a pod” is derived from Eupheus and His England written by John Lyly in the 16th century. It shows its use almost in the same wordings as: “Wherin I am not unlike unto the unskilfull Painter, who having drawen the Twinnes of Hippocrates, (who wer as lyke as one pease is to an other).” Although the phrase is similar, there is only difference of spellings. There has been, however, an evolution in spellings which have become standardized with time.
Examples in Literature
Example #1
Honey and the Bee by Owl City
I swear
There’s a lot of vegetables out there
That crop up for air
Yeah, I never thought
We were two peas in a pod
To be suddenly bloomed
And I knew that I’d always love youOh, I’ll always love you too
If the green left the grass on the other side
I would make like a tree and leave
But if I reached for your hand, would your eyes get wide
Who knew the other side could be so green
These stanzas are taken from the song “Honey and the Bee”. Here the singer thinks compares himself and his love with the honey and the bee. The song is mostly self-explanatory. The singer is wondering that there are many different people in the world, but he wants to hold her hands and love her because they both are similar in many ways.
Example #2
Scratch My Back by Elvis Presley
If you’ll scratch my back then I’ll scratch your back
Like two peas in a pack, let’s get rid of our itch together, HmmScratch me now a little lower
What a feeling do it slower
That’s it, Hmm you’re getting hot
Well I gotta admit, you just hit the spotIf you’ll scratch my back then I’ll scratch your back
Like two peas in a pack, let’s get rid of our itch together, HmmIf you’ll scratch my back then I’ll scratch your back
Here the phrase ‘scratch my back’ means two friends helping each other in desperate need. It also means that they cover each other’s mistakes The use of the phrase ‘Like two peas in a pack’ is different from the original usage. However, it means they are alike and they will keep each other safe and help if they get into trouble.
Example #3
Two Peas in a Pod by Lawrence S. Pertillar
Two peas in a pod.
Each other needed.
To feed a wish…
To be together,
And not mystified!
These are the first five lines of the poem ‘Two Peas in a Pod’. The poem is self-explanatory. Here the speaker expresses that he needs his friend to motivate and doesn’t want to keep any secrets. He also expects that his friend does the same and they help each other to fulfill their wish and reach their goal.
Example #4
Two Peas in a Pod by Chris McKimmie
This is a very good book by Chris McKimmie for children. There are two children Marvin and Violet who love to play together. Their mothers notice that they play as if they are identical to each other. In the meanwhile, Marvin goes away to spend his holidays on a beach and the time goes on. The phrase has been used as the title of the book to prove that even the best friends who have lived with each other have to part someday. However, the best thing is to remember this closeness.
Examples in Sentences
Example #1: “Jane and Jenny are five years apart, but they always wear similar dresses. They are as alike as two peas in a pod.”
Example #2: “Friends who always choose the same sport, same classes, have the same favorite actors and go to the movies together are as alike as two peas in a pod.”
Example #3: “In every Disney movie a mean girl has two friends who try to copy her. But they are not as alike as two peas a pod. They try but fail to imitate her.”
Example #4: “Ray and Matthew are best friends, but people mistake them for brothers because they are as alike as two peas in a pod They spend a lot of time together.”
Example #5: “In front of the crowd Terry and Kaleb pretend they are as alike as two peas in a pod. The truth is they hate each other.”