While the terms are often used interchangeably, they're not precisely the same. A sideways market refers to a period where price movements are mostly horizontal, suggesting that the forces of supply and demand are relatively balanced. This usually happens when an asset's price fluctuates within a confined range over a certain period. On the other hand, consolidation is a period of indecision which could occur in any type of market, not just a sideways one. It's characterised by tighter price action and usually precedes a significant price move in either direction. So, a sideways market could be a period of consolidation, but consolidation isn't necessarily always a sideways market.