be as good as each other; be equal; be roughly the same
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Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
be as good as each other; be equal; be roughly the same
derogatoryLiteral meaning: In the old measurement system, half a catty was eight ounces (as one catty equaled sixteen ounces). The idiom is now used metaphorically to say two things or people are equally bad, mediocre, or similar in a negative sense. While it can be neutral, it often carries a derogatory nuance.
Bié别
chǎo吵
le了
，
nǐ你
men们
liǎng两
gè个
zuò做
shì事
dōu都
mǎ马
mǎ马
hū虎
hū虎
，
bàn半
jīn斤
bā八
liǎng两
。
Stop arguing. Both of you are careless in your work; you're as bad as each other.
Zhè这
liǎng两
zhī支
qiú球
duì队
de的
shí实
lì力
bàn半
jīn斤
bā八
liǎng两
，
shuí谁
yíng赢
dōu都
bù不
qí奇
guài怪
。
The strength of these two teams is about equal; it wouldn't be surprising if either won.
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Dà大
gē哥
bié别
shuō说
èr二
gē哥
，
nǐ你
men们
liǎ俩
zuò作
bì弊
de的
shuǐ水
píng平
shì是
bàn半
jīn斤
bā八
liǎng两
。
The pot shouldn't call the kettle black; your levels of cheating are equally bad.