Simile (simple)

What is a simile?

Similes are used to compare two things using ‘as … as…’ or ‘…is like…’.

How to make a simile

1. as (adj) as (noun)
2. (v.) like …

Common similes

1. as (adj.) as (noun)

as blind as a bat	as mad as a hatter
as busy as a bee	as old as the hills
as clean as a whistle	as pure as snow
as cold as ice	as quick as lightning
as dead as a dodo	as quiet as a mouse
as deaf as a post	as sharp as a razor
as delicate as a flower	as silent as the dead
as easy as ABC	as slow as a snail
as dry as a bone	as slippery as an eel
as free as a bird	as solid as a rock
as hot as Hell	as white as a sheet
as hungry as a wolf

2. (v.) like …

it fits like a glove	she sings like an angel
he eats like a pig	I slept like a log
she swims like a fish	my love is like a red, red rose
they stood out like a sore thumb	her eyes twinkled like stars
they fought like cats and dogs	she’s sweet like honey
she has eyes like a hawk	he drinks like a fish
it broke like a cheap pair of heels	he ran like the wind
it flies like a bird	it bounced like a ball
she sings like a bird

Exercises

Although there are common similes in English, using your imagination can make your English speaking and writing a lot more interesting

He is as angry as….
They are as thin as…
He jumps like a …
They work as hard as…
She hits like…
She dances like…