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Explaining "Oil and water do not mix"

Reviewed and edited by Anwar Kareem 03/02/2025, 18:20
English.me team member

What does it mean?

Oil and water do not mix

The phrase "Oil and water do not mix" is a metaphor used to describe two or more elements—such as people, ideas, or substances—that are fundamentally incompatible and cannot be combined harmoniously.

Tone

Metaphorical and illustrative

Origin

This phrase originates from the literal scientific observation that oil and water are immiscible liquids due to their molecular properties, meaning they do not mix together.

Examples of usage

  • Trying to get those two to work together is like mixing oil and water.
  • Her creative ideas and his analytical approach were oil and water in the project.
  • Combining those software systems proved to be oil and water—they just wouldn't integrate.

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