Sunday 18 November 2007

AAE Q109: 'similes'

Hi,

I would like to know what the collective term is for phrases such as "as full as a radio" or "a face like a dropped pie" (alluding to someone being ugly).

Phrases which use an interesting, and funny, but indirect way to describe something. I ask because I would like to see what other interesting ones are out there!

Thanks

Hi,

These phrases are called 'similes'. Similes are widely used in literature and speech both contemporary and ancient. A simple way to remember is to say "A simile is similar".
Below is a list.

  • As agile as a monkey
  • As alike as two peas in a pod
  • As bald as a baby's backside
  • As bald as a badger
  • As bald as a coot
  • As big as a bus
  • As big as an elephant
  • As black as a sweep
  • As black as coal
  • As black as one is painted
  • As black as pitch
  • As blind as a bat
  • As blind as a mole
  • As bold as brass
  • As brave as a lion
  • As bright as a button
  • As bright as a new pin
  • As bright as day
  • As bright as the sun
  • As busy as a beaver
  • As busy as a bee
  • As busy as a cat on a hot tin roof
  • As calm as a millpond
  • As clear as a bell
  • As clean as a hound's tooth
  • As clean as a whistle
  • As clear as crystal
  • As clear as mud
  • As cold as ice
  • As common as dirt
  • As cool as a cucumber
  • As crazy as a loon
  • As cunning as a fox
  • As cute as a button
  • As cute as a cup cake
  • As dead as a doornail
  • As dead as the dodo
  • As deaf as a post
  • As delicate as a flower
  • As dense as a brick
  • As different as chalk from cheese
  • As drunk as a lord
  • As dry as a bone
  • As dry as dust
  • As dull as dishwater
  • As easy as A.B.C.
  • As easy as pie
  • As fat as a pig
  • As fit as a fiddle
  • As flat as a pancake
  • As free as a bird
  • As fresh as a daisy
  • As funny as a balloon
  • As gentle as a lamb As good as gold
  • As happy as a clown
  • As happy as a lark
  • As happy as Larry
  • As happy as a rat with a gold tooth
  • As hard as nails
  • As high as a kite
  • As hoarse as a crow
  • As hot as hell
  • As hungry as a bear
  • As hungry as a wolf
  • As innocent as a lamb
  • As keen as mustard
  • As large as life
  • As light as a feather
  • As light as air
  • As likely as not
  • As lowly as a worm
  • As mad as a hatter
  • As mad as a hornet
  • As mad as the march hare
  • As merry as a cricket
  • As modest as a maiden
  • As much use as a yard of pump water
  • As naked as a baby
  • As neat as a pin
  • As nutty as a fruitcake
  • As obstinate as a mule
  • As old as the hills
  • As pale as death
  • As patient as Job
  • As plain as day
  • As pleased as Punch
  • As poor as a church mouse
  • As poor as dirt
  • As pretty as a picture
  • As proud as a peacock
  • As pure as snow
  • As pure as the driven snow
  • As quick as a wink
  • As quick as lightning
  • As quick as silver
  • As right as rain
  • As round as a barrel
  • As round as a circle
  • As round as a sphere
  • As safe as houses
  • As scarce as hen's teeth
  • As sensitive as a flower
  • As sharp as a needle
  • As sharp as a razor
  • As sick as a dog
  • As sick as a parrt
  • As silent as the dead
  • As silent as the grave
  • As silly as a goose
  • As slippery as an eel
  • As slow as molasses
  • As slow as a snail
  • As slow as a tortoise
  • As slow as a wet weekend
  • As sly as a fox
  • As smooth as silk
  • As snug as a bug in a rug
  • As sober as a judge
  • As soft as a baby's bottom
  • As solid as a rock
  • As solid as the ground we stand on
  • As sound as a bell
  • As sour as vinegar
  • As steady as a rock
  • As sticky as jam
  • As stiff as a board
  • As still as death
  • As straight as an arrow
  • As strong as an ox
  • As stubborn as a mule
  • As sturdy as an oak
  • As sure as death and taxes
  • As sweet as honey
  • As tall as a giraffe
  • As tight as a drum
  • As thick as a brick
  • As thin as a rake
  • As thin as a toothpick
  • As timid as a rabbit
  • As tough as leather
  • As tough as nails
  • As tough as old boots
  • As tricky as a box of monkeys
  • As welcome as a skunk at a lawn party
  • As white as a ghost
  • As white as a sheet
  • As white as snow
  • As wise as Solomon
  • As wise as an owl
m

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