五十歩百歩

Etymology
Shortening of, in turn ultimately a , from a story by Mencius wherein two characters are running away from a battle and the one going fifty steps laughs at the one having gone one hundred steps for being a coward. The point of the expression is that both have run away, and the difference is purely a matter of degree.

The longer form is first cited to 1714, and the shortened form is first cited to around 1716. The shortened form now appears to have replaced the longer form.

Idiom

 * 1)  pot calling the kettle black; six of one, half a dozen of the other

Usage notes

 * Though gojippo hyappo is the traditional reading and is the one listed in most dictionaries,   gojuppo hyappo appears to also be in common use.