SIMILES List – as… as

A simile is a figure of speech.

A simile compares two things.

Similes compare the similarities between two things using words such as “like” or “as” .

It is not necessary to learn to use similes in your speaking.

However, you may find it helpful to know what some common similes mean so that you can understand them when you hear them.

SIMILE	EXAMPLE	DEFINITION
as bald as an eagle	He has no hair. He is as bald as an eagle.	completely bald (i.e., no hair on top of one’s head)
as bald as an egg	He shaved his head. He’s as bald as an egg now!	completely bald (i.e., no hair on top of one’s head)
as black as coal	Her hair is beautiful. It is as black as coal.	very black
as blind as a bat	I have worn glasses since I was 10 years old. I am as blind as a bat without them.	to have very poor vision
as busy as a bee	We got all the cleaning done. We were as busy as bees.	very busy
as clear as a bell	“Can you hear me now?” the speaker asked, after turning on the microphone. “Yes,” someone in the audience answered. “As clear as a bell.”	to hear or understand very clearly
as cold as ice	Your hands are as cold as ice! Where are your gloves? It is winter!	very cold
as cool as a cucumber	She doesn’t get nervous speaking to large groups. She is as cool as a cucumber.	not at all nervous or uncomfortable
as deaf as a post	My poor grandfather is as deaf as a post. You have to stand close to him and shout or he can’t hear you.	very deaf
as dry as dust	I used the same recipe she did, but her cookies were delicious and mine were as dry as dust.	very dry
as easy as pie	It didn’t take us long to finish. It was as easy as pie!	very easy
as fast as lightning	He is an amazing sprinter. Look at him go! He’s as fast as lightning.	very fast
as flat as a pancake	She squashed the bug as flat as a pancake.	very flat
as free as a bird	After my aunt moved from the country to an apartment, she said she felt as free as a bird because there were no animals to look after.	a feeling of extreme freedom
as fresh as a daisy	1) I was exhausted after my airplane trip. I had a nap and then I felt as fresh as a daisy! 2) After I bath the baby, he will smell as fresh as a daisy!	refreshed; can also be used to describe a clean, fresh smell
as good as gold	Don’t worry about leaving your two-year-old here. He is always as good as gold when we babysit him.	very good
as happy as a lark	She is as happy as a lark in her new apartment.	happy and carefree
as hungry as a bear	When is lunch? I am as hungry as a bear!	very hungry
as light as a feather	Oh! That’s a surprise. I expected this box to be heavy but it is actually as light as a feather.	very light
as mad as a hornet	When she said I couldn’t go with her, I was as mad as a hornet!	very angry
as nutty as a fruitcake	My neighbour is as nutty as a fruitcake. One day he threw an apple at me!	crazy
as old as the hills	I love this old bathrobe even though it is as old as the hills.	very old
as pale as a ghost	After his car accident, he was as pale as a ghost.	when a person’s face has no tinges of colour
as quick as a wink	Hold on! I am leaving right now. I will be there as quick as a wink.	very quickly
as quiet as a mouse	Sshh! Be as quiet as a mouse so they don’t hear you.	very quiet
as sick as a dog	She was as sick as a dog through her whole pregnancy.	very sick
as slow as a turtle	Hurry up! We are going to be late. You are as slow as a turtle!	very slow
as smooth as silk	This cheesecake is delicious. It is as smooth as silk.	very smooth
as snug as a bug in a rug	I tucked my son into his beds. He was as snug as a bug in a rug.	wrapped up in clothing or blankets in a cozy manner
as solid as a rock	It should be safe to invest in that company. They have been as solid as a rock for 50 years.	trustworthy, stable
as sound as a bell	The doctor says I am as sound as bell. No problems at all.	to be very healthy, or in good condition
as stiff as a board	He is definitely dead. He is as stiff as a board.	not at all flexible, or able to bend
as straight as an arrow	I know she didn’t cheat. That girl is as straight as an arrow.	very truthful, morally upright
as strong as an ox (or as a bull)	Get my dad to help you move your bookcase. He is as strong as an ox.	very strong
as stubborn as a mule	If he said no, he won’t change his mind. He is as stubborn as an ox.	very stubbon
as thin as a rake	I am worried about her. She has lost so much weight she is as thin as a rake.	very thin
as white as a sheet	After her accident, she was as white as a sheet.	when a person has no colour in their face because they are ill, or frightened
as wise as an owl	My grandmother helped me solve problems I had in life many times. She was as wise as an owl.	very wise