All cats are grey in the dark.
All cats are grey in the dark.
Meaning in plain English
The saying makes all cats grey in darkness. As an explicit analogy, outward differences are pictured as becoming less apparent in a shared condition.
Example
A reader asks whether an apparent difference matters to the task rather than treating appearance as the whole distinction.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
All and grey give the image a complete sameness without verifying colour or vision. A useful application can question how much appearance contributes to a judgment. It should not imply that people or things are actually interchangeable once a visible distinction is hidden.
When to use it
Use it as a stated analogy about apparent differences and their relevance.
Keep in mind
No visual or biological rule is verified, and hidden differences may still matter.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 257; PDF page 40
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Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
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