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Go to Metaphors

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Simile
"A simile, to be perfect, must both illustrate and ennoble the subject ..." Samuel Johnson

A simile is a way of describing something by comparing it to something else, often using the word "like" or "as." For example, "He is as brave as a lion."

The word simile is pronounced SIM-il-ee.

Some common similes (plus their meaning) include:
As alike as two peas in a pod (meaning identical
As blind as a bat (can't see very well at all)
As busy as a bee (very busy)
As cold as a fish (unemotional)
As clean as a whistle (very clean)
As clear as mud (ironic, meaning not clear at all)
As cool as a cucumber (someone who stays calm)
As delicate as a flower (fragile)
As easy as ABC (very simple)
Fit as a fiddle (very healthy)
Free as a bird (free to go anywhere)
Fresh as a daisy (clean and fresh)
As gentle as a lamb (very gentle)
Good as gold (very good)
Red as a beet (embarrassed)
To Leak like a sieve (full of holes)
As light as a feather (light in weight)
As plain as day (clear to see)
As quick as a wink (happens in a short amount of time)
Sleep like a baby (sleeping soundly)
As silly as a goose (very foolish)
As hard as nails (a person who is very tough)
As slow as molasses (moves very slowly)
As old as the hills (very old)
Pure as driven snow (innocent, chaste)
Run like the wind (run very quickly)
Sick as a dog (very sick)
As slippery as a fish (a person who is not trustworthy)
Sly as a fox (a person who is clever and tricky)
As smooth as silk (very smooth)
Snug as a bug in a rug (comfortable and warm)
Strong as an ox (very strong)
Sturdy as an oak tree (very strong)
As stubborn as a mule (very obstinate)
Sweet as honey (very sweet)
Tall as a tree (very tall)
Thick as a brick (not very smart)
As tough as nails (very tough)
As wise as an owl (very wise)

Activities on Similes:

Write Eight Similes
Think of and write eight similes. Sample answers: Busy as a bee, As big as a whale, As brave as a lion, Bright like the sun, As red as a beet, As free as the wind, Slippery as a fish, It burst like a balloon.

Similes and Metaphors:
Printable Read and Answer Worksheet
A printable worksheet on similes and metaphors, with a short passage to read, a multiple-choice section, and questions to answer. Or go to the answers.

Writing Similes
For each adjective, write a simile. For example: tall: as tall as a mountain.

Find a Simile for Each Letter
See if you can think of and write down a simile for each letter of the alphabet. Or go to a sample answer page.