Appendix:English similes

The following is an alphabetical list of common similes used in English.

Generic similes

Used as intensifiers with a wide range of adjectives

Some use intensifiers with a broader range of applications; often taboo words or euphemistic substitutes:

as/like the devil/the dickens
as/like/than fuck/hell/shit

Some are specifically similes:

Adjective-based similes

With as

as bald as a coot
as bent as a nine-bob note
as big as a whale
as black as the ace of spades
as blind as a bat
as bold as brass
as bright as a button
as busy as a beaver
as busy as a bee
as calm as a millpond
as calm as a dove
as cheap as chips
as chirpy as a cricket
as clean as a whistle
as clear as a bell
as clear as crystal
as clear as day
as clear as mud - sarcasm, not clear at all!
as cold as a witch’s tit
as cold as ice
as common as muck
as cool as a cucumber
as crazy as a loon
as cute as a bug's ear
as cute as a button
as daft as a brush
as dead as a doornail
as dead as a dodo
as dead as a doorknob
as deaf as a post
as different as chalk and cheese
as different as night and day
as drunk as a lord
as drunk as a sailor
as drunk as a skunk
as dry as a bone
as dumb as a box of rocks
as dumb as dirt
as easy as ABC
as easy as falling off a log
as easy as pie
as fat as a pig
as fat as a fool
as fit as a butcher's dog
as fit as a fiddle
as flat as a pancake
as free as a bird
as free as the wind
as fresh as a daisy
as gentle as a lamb
as good as gold
as good as one's word
as happy as a clam
as happy as the day is long
as happy as a lark
as happy as Larry
as happy as a pig in mud
as happy as a pig in shit
as happy as a sandboy
as hard as nails
as hard as a rock
as high as a Georgia pine - intoxicated
as high as a kite - giddy / intoxicated
as hot as blazes
as hot as fire
as keen as mustard
as light as a feather
as lively as a cricket
as long as my arm
as loose as a goose
as mad as a bear with a sore head
as mad as a hatter
as meek as a lamb
as meek as a mouse
as merry as a cricket
as merry as a grig
as neat as a new pin
as nutty as a fruit cake - crazy
as old as the hills
as phony as a three-dollar bill
as pissed as a newt - drunk
as plain as day
as plain as the nose on your face
as pleased as Punch
as poor as a church mouse
as pretty as a picture
as proud as a peacock
as puffy as a cloud
as pure as the driven snow
as queer as a three-dollar bill
as queer as a clockwork orange
as quiet as a mouse
as quick as a flash
as quick as lightning
as quick as thought
as quick as a wink
as rare as hen's teeth
as rare as rocking-horse shit
as red as a beetroot
as right as rain
as right as a trivet
as serene as the sea
as sharp as a tack - intelligent
as sick as a dog
as sick as a parrot
as silent as the grave
as slippery as an eel
as slow as molasses
as sly as a fox
as smart as a whip
as smooth as a baby's bottom
as smooth as butter
as smooth as oil
as smooth as silk
as snug as a bug in a rug
as sober as a judge
as soft as silk
as solid as a rock
as sound as a bell
as steady as a rock
as straight as an arrow
as straight as a die
as strong as an ox
as stubborn as a mule
as sure as eggs is eggs
as sure as you're born
as surefooted as a mountain goat
as sweet as candy
as sweet as a nut - easy / straightforward
as sweet as pie
as swift as a deer
as thick as thieves — friendly
as thick as two short planks — stupid
as thin as a rail
as thin as a rake
as tight as a drum
as tight as a duck's arse — thrifty
as timid as a mouse
as timid as a rabbit
as tough as nails
as tough as old boots
as ugly as sin
as useful as a chocolate teapot - sarcasm, implies utterly useless
as useful as tits on a bull
as warm as toast
as welcome as the flowers in May
as white as a sheet — pale from fright
as white as snow
as wise as an owl

Appendix:English similes

Generic similes

Adjective-based similes

With as

With than

With before

Similes with like

Complement-specific

Noun-specific

Verb-specific

See also