phrases & sayings

[ewankeil]

where does the saying chalk and cheese come from?

[Quizmonster]

The phrase was first used in print in the 14th century in a book by Gower. It is often used in proverbial sayings, because the two things differ greatly, though they may look similar. The fact that they both open with a 'ch' sound also "ties them together", as it were.

[mikewith]

There's an Answerbank article on the question here: http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Article.go?id=3347