SIMILES
Similes are extremely common expressions in English that directly point out the similarity
or connection between two things, usually by using the words as or like.
Animal Similes

as fat as a pig

as wise as an owl

as slippery as an eel

as quiet as a mouse

as gentle as a lamb

as sick as a dog, parrot

he swims like a fish

he walks like a duck

as hungry as a wolf
Other Common Similes
as black as the ace of spades
as cool as a cucumber
as clean as a whistle
as clear as day
as dead as a dodo/doornail
as deaf as a post
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
as smart as a fox

as brave as a lion

as strong as an ox

as busy as a bee

as blind as a bat
as drunk as a lord
as dry as a bone
as fit as a fiddle
as good as gold
as heavy as lead
as light as a feather
as mad as a hatter
as old as the hills
as quick as a flash
as red as a beetroot/lobster
as right as rain
as sober as a judge
as sound as a bell
as steady as the Rock of Gibraltar
as thin as a rake
as tough as old boots
as ugly as sin
as warm as toast
as weak as water
as white as a sheet
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FILL IN THE CORRECT SIMILE:
1. Is there anything to eat? I'm as hungry as a ..........................
2. It hasn't rained for months - the ground's as dry as a ...........................
3. You'll have to speak up when you're with Tom; he's as deaf as a .........................
4. Mike was so embarrassed when we found out he was lying: his face was as red as a
............................................
5. I can't see a thing without my glasses. I'm as blind as a ..................................
6. Your brother's as thin as a.................................. Is he eating enough?
7. I promise I won't wake you up when I get home. I'll be as quiet as a ...........................
8. This bag's not heavy - it's as light as a ..................................
GIVE A SIMILE WHICH IS THE OPPOSITE OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. as drunk as a lord.................................
2. as weak as water..................................
3. as light as a feather..............................
4. as clean as a whistle..............................
5. as fat as a pig........................................
6. as brave as a lion..................................
NOW DO THE EXERCISES ON THE NEXT PAGE. YOU MAY NOT HAVE SEEN
ALL OF THESE SIMILES AND SOME MAY BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
Listen and watch this song by the American composer Irving Berlin from the musical
comedy “Annie Get Your Gun”, about the most famous female cowboy in the American
West, Annie Oakley. In the song the male and female singers try to outdo each other – they
use a lot of comparatives. Who do you think wins the argument?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGLnsNPQcls
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