There’s No Accounting for Tastes

Meaning of Idiom ‘There’s No Accounting for Taste(s)’

There’s no accounting for tastes means that an individual’s likes, dislikes or preferences defy explanation; it is impossible to understand why people like certain things and dislike other things. ¹Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms]. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,²Ayto, John. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.

Examples Of Use

“My neighbor just brought home a bright yellow sports car. There’s no accounting for tastes.”

“I can’t believe Sharon is dating that guy,” said Vicky. “He’s so arrogant and boorish.” “There’s just no accounting for taste,” said Ryan.

“What is caviar,” asked Billy. “Caviar is fish eggs,” said Mom. “People eat fish eggs? Yuck!” “Well there’s no accounting for tastes,” said Mom.

 

Origin

This expression began in the mid-1600s as the Latin de gustibus non est disputandum, meaning “no disputing about tastes.” The modern variation was first used in print in 1794. ³Ammer, Christine. American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms]. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.,⁴Ayto, John. Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms. Oxford: Oxford U, 2010.

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