List of AS...AS Similes
This is a list of well-known as...as similes. There are more similes, of course, some common and others less common because anyone can make a simile at any time--you too!
| simile |
meaning |
comment |
| as alike as two peas in a pod |
identical or nearly so |
|
| as bald as a coot |
completely bald |
|
| as big as a bus |
very big |
|
| as big as an elephant |
very big |
|
| as black as a sweep |
completely black |
sweep = chimney sweep |
| as black as coal |
completely black |
|
| as black as pitch |
completely black |
|
| as blind as a bat |
completely blind |
may be exaggeration |
| as blind as a mole |
completely blind |
may be exaggeration |
| as bold as brass |
very bold |
usually in a negative sense |
| as brave as a lion |
very brave |
|
| as bright as a button |
very bright |
|
| as bright as a new pin |
very bright and shiny |
|
| as busy as a beaver |
very busy |
|
| as busy as a bee |
very busy |
|
| as busy as a cat on a hot tin roof |
very busy |
|
| as calm as a millpond |
very calm and still |
usually said of water |
| as clear as a bell |
very clear |
of a sound |
| as clean as a whistle |
very clean |
|
| as clear as crystal |
very clear |
|
| as clear as mud |
not at all clear |
irony or sarcasm |
| as cold as ice |
very cold |
|
| as common as dirt |
very common, rude, vulgar |
usually said of a person |
| as cool as a cucumber |
cool |
|
| as cunning as a fox |
cunning |
|
| as dead as a doornail |
dead |
|
| as dead as the dodo |
dead, extinct |
the dodo is an extinct bird |
| as deaf as a post |
completely deaf |
may be exaggeration |
| as different as chalk from cheese |
very different |
|
| as drunk as a lord |
completely drunk |
|
| as dry as a bone |
very dry |
|
| as dry as dust |
very dry |
|
| as dull as dishwater |
dull, boring |
usually said of a person |
| as easy as A.B.C. |
very easy |
|
| as easy as apple-pie |
very easy |
|
| as flat as a pancake |
completely flat |
|
| as free as a bird |
very free to go anywhere |
|
| as fresh as a daisy |
very fresh |
|
| as gentle as a lamb |
very gentle |
usually said of a person |
| as good as gold |
very good and obedient |
usually said of a person |
| as happy as a lark |
very happy |
usually said of a person |
| as hard as nails |
very tough in character |
of a person |
| as hot as hell |
very hot |
|
| as hungry as a bear |
very hungry |
|
| as hungry as a wolf |
very hungry |
|
| as innocent as a lamb |
innocent, not worldly-wise |
usually said of a person |
| as large as life |
conspicuously present |
|
| as light as a feather |
very light |
|
| as light as air |
very light |
|
| as mad as a hatter |
completely crazy |
|
| as mad as a hornet |
very angry |
|
| as nutty as a fruitcake |
completely crazy |
|
| as obstinate as a mule |
very obstinate, stubborn |
|
| as old as the hills |
very, very old |
|
| as pale as death |
very pale or white in the face |
of a person |
| as plain as day |
very clear |
|
| as poor as a church mouse |
poverty-stricken |
|
| as poor as dirt |
poverty-stricken |
|
| as proud as a peacock |
very proud |
|
| as pure as snow |
pure and innocent |
|
| as pure as the driven snow |
pure and innocent |
|
| as quick as a wink |
very quick(ly) |
|
| as quick as lightning |
very quick(ly) |
|
| as quick as silver |
very quick |
|
| as quiet as a church mouse |
very quiet |
|
| as safe as houses |
very safe, secure |
|
| as scarce as hen's teeth |
very, very scarce |
irony (hens have no teeth) |
| as sharp as a razor |
very sharp |
|
| as sick as a dog |
very sick |
|
| as sick as a parrot |
very sick |
|
| as silent as the dead |
completely silent |
|
| as silent as the grave |
completely silent |
|
| as slippery as an eel |
slippery, evasive |
of a person |
| as slow as a snail |
very slow |
|
| as slow as a tortoise |
very slow |
|
| as smooth as silk |
very smooth |
|
| as snug as a bug in a rug |
in a very comfortable position |
humorous |
| as sober as a judge |
sober |
|
| as solid as a rock |
solid |
|
| as solid as the ground we stand on |
solid |
|
| as sound as a bell |
very clear |
of a sound |
| as sour as vinegar |
very sour |
|
| as steady as a rock |
very steady |
|
| as stiff as a board |
completely stiff |
|
| as straight as an arrow |
straight |
an arrow flies straight |
| as strong as an ox |
very strong |
|
| as stubborn as a mule |
very stubborn, obstinate |
|
| as sturdy as an oak |
very strong and solid |
|
| as sure as death and taxes |
absolutely certain to happen |
|
| as tall as a giraffe |
very tall |
|
| as thin as a rake |
very thin |
|
| as timid as a rabbit |
very timid |
|
| as tough as leather |
very tough |
|
| as tough as nails |
very tough |
often said of a person |
| as tough as old boots |
very tough |
often said of a person |
| as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party |
not welcome at all |
irony or sarcasm (skunks stink) |
| as white as a ghost |
very pale or white in the face |
of a person |
| as white as a sheet |
pure white |
|
| as white as snow |
pure white |
|
| as wise as Solomon |
very wise |
King Solomon |
| as wise as an owl |
very wise |
|
Source: EnglishClub.com