Meaning & use
your mileage may vary
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phraseinformal
Used to say that your own experience of something may not be the same as the speaker's, because results differ between people.
Grammar: A complete remark on its own, often added after a recommendation.
That diet worked wonders for me, but your mileage may vary.
I found the app easy to use, although your mileage may vary.
This trick fixed my printer; your mileage may vary.
Common combinations
- but your mileage may vary
- It cured my cold, but your mileage may vary.
- YMMV
- Great budget phone, YMMV.
- mileage may vary
- Results are strong in our tests, though mileage may vary.
- your mileage might vary
- I loved the book, but your mileage might vary.
Synonyms and how they differ
- results may differ
- Results may differ is neutral and formal, while your mileage may vary is casual and slightly playful.
- it depends
- It depends is a general reply, but your mileage may vary is added after sharing your own experience.
- to each their own
- To each their own accepts differing tastes, while your mileage may vary refers to differing outcomes.
Word family
Commonly confused: your mileage may vary or mileage?
your mileage may vary vs mileage
Mileage here is a figure of speech for results, and has nothing to do with real driving distance.
Practice
I think this herbal tea helps me sleep, but ______.
Choose one answer.
Your mileage may vary is the fixed phrase warning that results differ. The other options are not idiomatic.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “your mileage may vary”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.