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What does the phrase "Jacke wie Hose" mean? Can anyone explain in which contexts this phrase can be used.

lerner1225
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2 Answers2

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Both are items of clothing historically tailored from the same fabric, so there is little difference. Cf. the English "it's as broad as it's long". It's rather colloquial, though.

Ingmar
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    I wouldn't exactly agree with rather colloquial. In my opinion, it's neither formal nor colloquial. It wouldn't be found in a research funding application, but I believe to have seen it in newspapers such as Die Zeit. The actual translated meaning is It doesn't matter. (but that's not as nicely idiomatic as your one ;)) – Jan Mar 30 '15 at 08:45
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Es handelt sich um eine umgangssprachliche Redewendung, die angewendet werden kann, wenn es darum geht zwischen zwei Optionen zu wählen. Jacke wie Hose bedeutet dann, dass es egal ist, welche Option gewählt wird.

Martin Peters
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