A biweekly feature about idioms.
When it comes to politics, consumerism, and supernatural love triangles, not all choices are stark, consequential, or, in fact, actual choices. Many times, we’re left with a pair of options that are effectively the same, i.e. “six of one, half a dozen of the other.” Because it’s been a long time since college math class, I ran some tests and concluded that six of one is, in fact six. Likewise, half a dozen of anything, including baby elephants and genital warts, is also six.
E.g. “Who are you voting for, Harold?” “I’m six of one, half a dozen of another. No matter who gets in office, I still can’t marry the rhododendron, so what does it matter?”
E.g. “Would you like ham or bacon on the pizza?” “Ehh, six of one, half a dozen of the other.” “Do you mean you want it split half and half?” “No, you imbecile, I would’ve said that if that’s what I meant.” “Oh, well, you know, I thought you making a math joke.” “This is the worst Pi Day ever.”
E.g. Take the red pill, take the blue pill. It’s six of one, half a dozen of another—either way you’re popping pills.
For the record, I took both pills, just to make sure.