Similes. Figures of speech in English language

Similes

A simile is used to describe something by comparing it to something else. It is a figure of speech in English, used in normal conversation as well as literary language. Similes use words such as like, as, or such, for comparison.

Common similes are as follows:

• As gentle as a lamb
• As black as coal
• As playful as a kitten
• As regular as clock work
• As sweet as honey
• As smooth as silk
• As cold as ice
• As slippery as an eel
• As busy as a bee
• As blind as a bat
• As agile as a monkey
• As cool as cucumber
• A light as a feather
• As tough as nails
• As tall as a giraffe
• As bold as brass
• As brave as a lion
• As white as snow
• As bright as a button
• As cheap as dirt
• As warm as toast
• As cunning as a fox
• As deaf as a post
• As heavy as lead
• As proud as a peacock
• As sweet as pie
• As tall as a giraffe
• As timid as a rabbit
• As useless as a chocolate teapot
• As thin as a rake
• As wise as an owl
• As tight as a drum
• As tough as old boots
• As old as the hills
• As busy as a beaver
• As hungry as a wolf
• As large as life
• As alike as two peas in a pod
• As innocent as a lamb
• As black as coal
• As dry as a bone
• As free as a bird

Similes can also start with ‘like’.

• (Sing) like an angel
• (Fight) like cats and dogs
• (Eat) like a bird
• (Work) like a dog
• (Soar) like an eagle
• Like fingernails on a chalkboard
• (Racing) like a frightened rabbit

Now, try your hand at similes. Fill in the blanks in each of the following sentences, to complete the simile and the meaning of the sentence. You can pick the words from those given below.

[ gold | cucumber | bone | mule leather | snail swan | toast | fiddle | rain | whistle | doornail ]

• We were as warm as …………… in our beds.
• When the lion escaped, the zookeeper was as cool as ………………….
• I am afraid the idea is as dead as a ………………….
• My leg is as good as ………………… after the operation.
• When Martha dances, she is as graceful as a ………………….
• This piece of meat is as tough as ………………….
• I could not get Soula to change her mind; she is as stubborn as a ………………….
• After she has a rest Sally will be as right as ………………….
• After I mopped it, the kitchen floor was as clean as a ………………….
• It is such a hot day. I am dry as a ………………….
• Although he is over eighty, Mr. Herman is as fit as a ………………….
• Mike is always last in line. He is as slow as a ………………….

Answers

• toast
• cucumber
• doornail
• gold
• swan
• leather
• mule
• rain
• whistle
• bone
• fiddle
• snail