A simile /ˈsɪmɪli/ is an expression that compares one thing to another, always including the words “as” or “like” (e.g., as brave as a lion, bright like a star). It can also refer to the use of such expressions. Similes create vivid imagery, clarify meaning, and add emotional depth to writing or speech. Let’s explore some of the most common similes in English and get the hang of this wonderful figure of speech.

As mentioned above, a simile creates vivid imagery, clarifies meaning, and adds emotional depth to writing or speech. Compare:

As you can see, both sentences are very natural, but the ones with similes are more vivid because they tap into familiar imagery. This helps them create a memorable and instantly understandable picture in our minds. For extra clarity in what you’re trying to explain, try using a simile by identifying the quality you want to emphasize and choosing a familiar comparison. Remember to include “as” or “like” when crafting a simile. If you avoid comparing things with those words, you may still succeed, but that would lead us into the realm of metaphors—a topic for another article, which we’ll definitely cover in the near future. For now, let’s stay focused on similes.

Suppose you want to emphasize how hot the day is. What is something that’s super hot? You might think of the sun. From there, you can create a simile like this: Today’s sun is as hot as an oven.

❕Note that there would be an issue with “today is hot as an oven.” That’s because “today” is being compared to an oven, which doesn’t logically make sense since the day itself isn’t an object or something physical. Instead, you want to specify the weather or the sun as the thing being compared: Today’s weather is as hot as an oven. The sun is as hot as an oven today.

Common Similes

Let’s look at some commonly used similes in English that are so frequent it may be worth remembering them as collocations:

1. As busy as a bee: She’s as busy as a bee preparing for the event.
2. As blind as a bat: Without my glasses, I’m as blind as a bat.
3. As soft as silk: The sheets are as soft as silk on the bed.
4. As light as a feather: The baby bird felt as light as a feather in her hand.
5. As quick as lightning: He responded to the question as quick as lightning.
6. As quiet as a mouse: The children were as quiet as mice during the storytime.
7. As strong as an ox: He’s as strong as an ox and lifted the heavy box effortlessly.
8. As stubborn as a mule: She can be as stubborn as a mule when she wants to be.
9. As sweet as honey: The cake was as sweet as honey.
10. As tough as nails: He’s as tough as nails and doesn’t give up easily.
11. As free as a bird: After finishing her exams, she felt as free as a bird.
12. As white as snow: The wedding dress is white as snow.
13. As sharp as a tack: Even at 90, she’s as sharp as a tack.
14. As mad as a hornet: She was as mad as a hornet when she found out the news.
15. As cold as ice: Her hands were cold as ice in the winter air.

Although many similes used in everyday life may not be very rigid, some examples really are, which makes them idioms you can’t change without sounding unnatural. Remember some of these expressions: as dead as a doornail (e.g. After the intense debate, my interest in the topic was as dead as a doornail—nothing anyone said could spark my curiosity again.), as fit as a fiddle (e.g. After months of intense training, she’s as fit as a fiddle, ready to compete in the marathon next week), as easy as pie (e.g. Don’t worry about the exam—it’ll be as easy as pie if you just study the key concepts), as cool as a cucumber (e.g. Despite the chaotic scene around him, he remained as cool as a cucumber, handling every challenge with a calm smile.).

You are, of course, free to say something like fit as Arnold Schwarzenegger, and you’d be right, as he has always been truly fit. However, that won’t be a well-established idiom, while fit as a fiddle is something you’ll even find in a dictionary.

Practice

It’s time for practice!

Before you go…

Before we wrap up this post and you continue with your day, take a moment to check out a song that’s all about similes. It’s truly one of a kind. What do you think of it?