Meaning:
The idiom two peas in a pod means that two people are very much alike; being similar to another person, either in appearance or because both people like doing the same things.
Example: I met someone at the park and we quickly became friends. A few weeks later and we’re like two peas in a pod; we both enjoy dancing and bicycling around the city.
Note: This phrase is commonly used as a simile, as the word ‘like’ often precedes it.
1. Birds of a feather
2. Like father, like son
3. One and the same
4. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Origin Of ‘Two Peas In a Pod’
This idiom likely stems from the fact that two peas inside of a pod are nearly identical in terms of how they look (you can see this depicted in the picture above). Indeed, if you pulled out a couple of peas and placed them side by side, they would be practically indistinguishable from one another. Although their size may differ slightly, both peas are both green, round, and small. Thus, a comparison is drawn—two people who share similarities are like two peas in a pod.
This expression has been used for nearly 200 years now, though it is probably much older. The earliest I could find it in print is from the early 19th century, from a book by Catherine G. Ward called The Widow’s Choice, or, One, Two, Three, 1823:
“Nay, I have actually heard Miss Liddy say that the eyes of Lady Primose, which are of a charming bright black, you know, and the nose of Lady Primrose, which inclines rather to the aquiline, is as like yours, when you was a young man, as two peas in a pod.”
This phrase is also in various newspapers from around that time. For example, there’s a part in The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, April 1834, that reads:
“There never were two peas in a pod more alike than Signor Joachim Fernando Pereira, and my late servant, John Taylor the deserter.”
Tip: This phrase is an example of an idiomatic expression, but what does that mean? Check out these idiom examples to learn about them — that page explains what idioms are and provides sentence examples, making them easy to understand.
Example Sentences
- My wife and I are like two peas in a pod, we enjoy doing all sorts of activities together.
- Both of you have a similar style when it comes to clothing; you’re two little peas in a pod.
Similar Examples:
- Mary and Donna’s favorite place in the house is the kitchen. They have a passion for cooking and are birds of a feather with regard to food.
- I have a couple of cats that are so similar, if it wasn’t for their different colored coats, I’d say they were one and the same.
