bear a resemblance to something—(also: have a resemblance to something ) seem similar to smth., especially in external appearance:
- Both in the treatment of the face and in the pose of the body the figure bears a resemblance to certain Kushan sculpture.
bear a semblance of something—(also: have a semblance of something ) have a slight, superficial and often deceptive similarity to smth.:
- After many years, life here bears a semblance of normality and farmers have had a bumper crop.