40 Similes with AS and LIKE

Expression

Meaning

Example sentence

As blind as a bat

used to describe someone who has poor eyesight.

When she takes her glasses off Jill is as blind as a bat.

As brave as a lion

very brave.

The actor didn’t seem very big or strong but he was as brave as a lion.

As busy as a bee

very busy and active.

Mary has been as busy as a bee all day cleaning her flat.

As clean as a whistle

very clean. 

Mike cleaned the car so it’s as clean as a whistle.

As cold as ice

very cold.

Tom’s hands were as cold as ice.

As dead as a doornail

used to stress that somebody is really dead.

The hunter didn’t dare to come near the animal until he was sure it was as dead as a doornail.

As different as night and day

totally different.

Darren and his brother were as different as night and day.

As quick as lightning

very quick.

Brian’s new car was as quick as lightning.

As fresh as a daisy

healthy and full of energy.

Although he was very busy all day, when he arrived home, Simon looked as fresh as a daisy.

As gentle as a lamb

used to describe a calm and caring person.

My dentist is as gentle as a lamb.

As happy as a clam

very happy.

Rob was as happy as a clam when he heard the good news.

As hot as hell

extremely hot.

It was over as hot as hell outside so I decided to stay at home.

As light as a feather

very lightweight.

The parcel was big but as light as a feather.

As old as the hills

very old.

I’ve heard that story before. It’s as old as the hills.

As proud as a peacock

extremely proud.

The boy was as proud as a peacock when her showed his marks to his parents.

As smooth as silk

very smooth. 

After the treatment, Jill’s skin was a smooth as silk.

As stubborn as a mule

extremely stubborn.

You’ll never make him change his mind. He’s as stubborn as a mule.

As hard/tough as nails

lacking feelings such as fear or sympathy.

The criminals were merciless, as hard as nails.

As wise as an owl

very clever and wise.

One needs to be as wise as an owl to solve this maths problem.

As white as a sheet

pale.

Maria was ill and her face was as white as a sheet.

Expression

Meaning

Example sentence

Cry like a baby

to cry a lot without a good reason.

Laura would watch a sad movie and cry like a baby when she was younger.

Cut like a knife

something said that causes pain.

The tone of her husband’s voice, which cut like a knife, hurt her most.

Life is like a box of chocolate

life is full of surprises.

Life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what will happen next.

Drink like a fish

to consume large amounts of alcohol.

My neighbour used to drink like a fish.

Eat like a bird   

to eat very little. 

You eat like a bird. Are you alright?

Eat like a pig

to eat a lot, usually with bad manners.

Look at Simon. He’s eating like a pig.

Fight like cats and dogs     

to have angry arguments very often.

Before they divorced, they’d fought like cats and dogs.

Fit like a glove

to be the right shape and size.

My new shoes fit like a glove.

Like a hot knife through butter

very easy to do.

Nick passed by the customs officer like a hot knife through butter.

Get on like a house on fire

when two people become friends instantly because they like each other a lot.

Mark and Gregory go on like a house on fire when they first met.

Have a memory like a sieve

to forget things easily.             

Hugh had a memory like a sieve, so he wrote everything down.  

Know something like the back of your hand

to know something very well.

I know this town like the back of my hand.

Look like a million dollars

to look very good because you wear something expensive.

If you wear that dress you will look like a million dollars

Move like a snail

to move very slowly.

Our car moved like a snail so we came late to the party.

Like a rabbit caught in the headlights

to be so frightened that you cannot move.

When she heard the bad news, Sam was like a rabbit caught in the headlights. She couldn’t move.

Sing like an angel

to sing beautifully.

Our daughter sings like an angel.

Sleep like a log/baby

to sleep soundly, without waking up or moving.

Norman had a sleeping pill and slept like a log all night.

Smoke like a chimney

to smoke a lot.

My grandpa used to smoke like a chimney.

Run like lightning

to run very quickly.

The cheetah is the fastest animal. It runs like lightning.

Stand/stick out like a sore thumb

to be easily noticed because you are different.

Martin would always stick out like a sore thumb because he was very tall.