20 Useful Phrases with LIKE (Meanings & Examples)
Hello, dear English learners 👋 Welcome to a new lesson. The word like appears in many fixed phrases and idiomatic expressions in English. These phrases are extremely common in everyday speech and are especially useful if you want your English to sound more natural, confident, and fluent. Many of the expressions below are informal or semi-informal, which makes them perfect for speaking, reviews, stories, and Cambridge B2–C1 exams, when used appropriately. Let’s look at 20 useful phrases with like, with clear meanings and natural examples.
As like as not
Meaning: very likely; probably
As like as not, he’ll forget his keys again.
It’ll rain later — as like as not.
Dressed like a dog’s dinner
Meaning: dressed in a way that is too formal, flashy, or unsuitable
He turned up to the barbecue dressed like a dog’s dinner.
She felt completely overdressed — like a dog’s dinner.
Drop someone/something like a hot potato
Meaning: to abandon someone or something very quickly
They dropped the plan like a hot potato when problems appeared.
He was dropped like a hot potato after the scandal.
Fit like a glove
Meaning: to fit perfectly
The jacket fits him like a glove.
The role fit her like a glove.
Get on like a house on fire
Meaning: to become friendly very quickly
They met at the conference and got on like a house on fire.
My new colleagues and I got on like a house on fire.
Like a charm
Meaning: to work perfectly
The new system worked like a charm.
I tried your advice — it worked like a charm.
Like a ton of bricks
Meaning: with sudden and powerful emotional impact
The news hit him like a ton of bricks.
It came down on me like a ton of bricks.
Like chalk and cheese
Meaning: completely different
The two brothers are like chalk and cheese.
Their teaching styles are like chalk and cheese.
Like mother, like daughter / like father, like son
Meaning: children resemble their parents
She’s stubborn, just like her mum — like mother, like daughter.
They’re both musicians — like father, like son.
Like pulling teeth
Meaning: very difficult or unpleasant to do
Getting him to apologise was like pulling teeth.
The interview was like pulling teeth.
Like the back of my hand
Meaning: to know something extremely well
I know this city like the back of my hand.
She knows the syllabus like the back of her hand.
Like white on rice
Meaning: very closely attached or watching carefully
Her parents were on her like white on rice.
The press were on the story like white on rice.
Mind like a sieve
Meaning: a very poor memory
I’ve got a mind like a sieve these days.
With a mind like a sieve, he forgets everything.
Shake like a leaf
Meaning: to tremble with fear or nerves
He was shaking like a leaf before the exam.
The dog shook like a leaf during the storm.
Sleep like a log / sleep like a baby
Meaning: to sleep very deeply
After the hike, I slept like a log.
She slept like a baby all night.
Smoke like a chimney
Meaning: to smoke a lot
He smokes like a chimney when he’s stressed.
She used to smoke like a chimney.
Take it like a man
Meaning: to face difficulty bravely (informal, slightly old-fashioned)
He lost the match but took it like a man.
She took the criticism like a man and improved.
Tell it like it is
Meaning: to speak honestly and directly
She always tells it like it is.
I respect him — he tells it like it is.
With friends like those, who needs enemies?
Meaning: said when friends behave badly or betray you
After what they did, I thought: with friends like those, who needs enemies?
They criticised me publicly — with friends like those…
Walk like an Egyptian
Meaning: to move in a stiff, stylised way, inspired by ancient Egyptian art; popularised by the song Walk Like an Egyptian
They walked like Egyptians during the themed dance.
The class practised walking like an Egyptian.
Final tip
Don’t try to memorise all these phrases at once. Choose five, write your own sentences, and reuse them in speaking or writing. That’s how idioms become yours.
Learn 45 idiomatic phrases about homes here
Learn 40 similes with AS & LIKE here
Learn 100 everyday English idioms and download the PDF here
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