what is a simile for homework

25 Similes for Homework

Writing assignments can sometimes feel like a daunting task, but they don’t have to be. One way to make your writing more engaging and vivid is by using similes.

Similes are figures of speech that compare two seemingly unrelated things using the words “like” or “as.” They inject life into your writing, making it more colorful and relatable. In this article, we will explore a list of similes that you can incorporate into your homework assignments to make them more interesting and enjoyable for both you and your readers.

Similes for Homework

1. as busy as a bee.

Meaning: Extremely busy or industrious.

In a Sentence: During the exam week, I was as busy as a bee, studying day and night to prepare for my tests.

2. As Clear as Crystal

Meaning: Very clear and easy to understand.

In a Sentence: The instructions for the project were as clear as crystal, leaving no room for confusion.

3. As Cool as a Cucumber

Meaning: Remarkably calm and composed, especially in stressful situations.

In a Sentence: Despite the last-minute changes, Sarah remained as cool as a cucumber and delivered her presentation flawlessly.

4. As Light as a Feather

Meaning: Extremely light in weight.

In a Sentence: The package was as light as a feather, which made it easy to carry.

5. As Fierce as a Lion

Meaning: Showing great intensity, strength, or determination.

In a Sentence: Her dedication to the cause was as fierce as a lion’s determination to protect its territory.

6. As Sly as a Fox

Meaning: Clever and cunning, often in a deceptive way.

In a Sentence: He was as sly as a fox when he managed to negotiate a better deal for himself.

7. As Fast as Lightning

Meaning: Moving extremely quickly.

In a Sentence: The car sped away as fast as lightning, leaving a trail of dust behind.

8. As Sweet as Honey

Meaning: Exceptionally pleasant, kind, or charming.

In a Sentence: Her smile was as sweet as honey, brightening up the room.

9. As White as Snow

Meaning: Pure and completely free from impurities or flaws.

In a Sentence: The wedding gown was as white as snow, symbolizing purity and innocence.

10. As Brave as a Lion

Meaning: Exceptionally courageous and fearless.

In a Sentence: She faced her fears head-on, displaying a bravery as remarkable as a lion’s.

11. As Red as a Rose

Meaning: Having a deep, vibrant red color.

In a Sentence: The sunset painted the sky as red as a rose, creating a breathtaking scene.

12. As Loud as a Thunderclap

Meaning: Extremely loud and deafening.

In a Sentence: The thunderstorm was as loud as a thunderclap, shaking the entire house.

13. As Dark as Night

Meaning: Completely lacking in light or very mysterious and obscure.

In a Sentence: The room was as dark as night, and I couldn’t see a thing.

14. As Busy as a Beaver

Meaning: Very active and hardworking.

In a Sentence: She was as busy as a beaver, juggling multiple tasks effortlessly.

15. As Cold as Ice

Meaning: Extremely cold and unfeeling.

In a Sentence: His heart felt as cold as ice after the betrayal.

16. As Hot as a Volcano

Meaning: Extremely hot and intense.

In a Sentence: The desert sun was as hot as a volcano, scorching everything in its path.

17. As Stubborn as a Mule

Meaning: Unwilling to change one’s mind or course of action.

In a Sentence: He was as stubborn as a mule, refusing to admit he was wrong.

18. As Busy as a Squirrel

Meaning: Very active and constantly on the move.

In a Sentence: The children in the park were as busy as squirrels, playing games and running around.

19. As Quiet as a Mouse

Meaning: Making little to no noise.

In a Sentence: The library was as quiet as a mouse, perfect for studying.

20. As Hungry as a Wolf

Meaning: Extremely hungry or ravenous.

In a Sentence: After the hike, I was as hungry as a wolf and devoured my sandwich.

21. As Bright as the Sun

Meaning: Exceptionally radiant and full of light.

In a Sentence: Her smile was as bright as the sun, bringing warmth to everyone around her.

22. As Slippery as an Eel

Meaning: Difficult to grasp or hold onto, often in a figurative sense.

In a Sentence: Dealing with his excuses was as slippery as an eel; he always found a way to avoid responsibility.

23. As Wise as an Owl

Meaning: Exceptionally wise, knowledgeable, or insightful.

In a Sentence: Grandma’s advice was as wise as an owl’s, and I always turned to her for guidance.

24. As Graceful as a Swan

Meaning: Displaying elegance and poise in one’s movements.

In a Sentence: The ballet dancer was as graceful as a swan, captivating the audience with her performance.

25. As Steady as a Rock

Meaning: Extremely stable and reliable.

In a Sentence: His support during tough times was as steady as a rock, always there when I needed it.

Incorporating similes into your writing can make your homework assignments more engaging and enjoyable to read. These comparisons not only add color and depth to your prose but also help your readers visualize and connect with the content on a deeper level.

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What Is a Simile? 60+ Examples and Teaching Ideas

A simile is as vivid as a rainbow.

Similes are one of the most popular literary devices, alongside their cousins metaphors and analogies. But how can you identify a simile? Learn the details here, plus find lots of engaging simile examples and fun teaching ideas.

What is a simile?

Simply put, a simile (say “SIM-uh-lee”) is a comparison between two things, usually using the words “like” or “as.” These comparisons are used to describe something, usually with colorful and expressive language. Similes help make a point or paint a clearer picture of the item being described.

• Example: The bad news struck them like a bolt of lightning.

Similes are a type of figurative language, in which words or phrases are meaningful but not strictly true. In the above example, the reader isn’t meant to believe that the people were actually struck by lightning. Instead, the simile helps the reader feel how shocking the news was to the recipients.

Need some help remembering the definition? Note that “simile” sounds like “similar.” When you make a comparison between two similar things, using “like” or “as,” that’s a simile.

Simile vs. Metaphor

It’s easy to get similes and metaphors confused, since both are types of comparisons. However, in a metaphor, you won’t find the words “like” or “as.” A metaphor states directly that one thing is another thing.

• Simile: Her smile is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.
• Metaphor: Her smile is the sunshine we need on such a cloudy day.

Learn more about metaphors here.

Common Simile Examples

These similes are well-known figures of speech, found frequently in all sorts of writing.

• Bright like the sun
• Cold as ice
• Cool as a cucumber
• Dead as a doornail
• Deaf as a post
• Easy as pie
• Fresh as a daisy
• Helpless as a baby
• Kind as an angel
• Light as a feather
• Like two peas in a pod
• Run like the wind
• Sleep like a baby
• Slow as molasses in winter
• Shine like a star
• Sharp like a knife
• Straight as an arrow
• Sweet as sugar
• Tall as a mountain
• White as a ghost

Animal Simile Examples

Similes often use animals, making comparisons to their behaviors and characteristics. Here’s a selection of popular animal similes.

• Big as an elephant
• Blind as a bat
• Brave as a lion
• Busy as a bee
• Fight like cats and dogs
• Float like a butterfly
• Free as a bird
• Gentle as a lamb
• Hop like a bunny
• Hungry as a bear
• Jump like a kangaroo
• Mad as a hornet
• Proud as a peacock
• Soar like an eagle
• Slippery as an eel
• Slow as a snail
• Sly as a fox
• Snore like a bear
• Swim like a fish
• Wise as an owl

Simile Examples From Literature

Authors and poets frequently use similes in their works, bringing life and meaning to their compositions. Check out these incredible simile examples for inspiration.

• “She walks in beauty like the night / Of cloudless climes and starry skies.” ( “She Walks in Beauty” by Lord Byron)
• “What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun?” ( “Harlem” by Langston Hughes)
• “O my Luve is like a red, red rose / That’s newly sprung in June.” ( “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns)
• “Continuous as the stars that shine / And twinkle on the milky way.” ( “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth)
• “Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.” ( A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens)
• “In the eastern sky there was a yellow patch like a rug laid for the feet of the coming sun.” ( The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane)
• “The very mystery of him excited her curiosity like a door that had neither lock nor key.” ( Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell)
• “The water made a sound like kittens lapping.” ( The Yearling , by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings)
• “Elderly American ladies leaning on their canes listed towards me like towers of Pisa.” ( Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov)
• “Up above the world so high / like a diamond in the sky.” (“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” by Anonymous)

Simile Examples From Songs

Song lyrics are full of similes, like those found in these examples.

• “When your heart’s just like a drum / Beating louder with no way to guard it.” (“Permission to Dance” by BTS)
• “My love is like a rocket / Watch it blast off.” (“Levitating” by Dua Lipa)
• “You look like a movie, you sound like a song.” (“When We Were Young” by Adele)
• “Shine bright like a diamond.” (“Diamonds” by Rihanna)
• “I will be rising from the ground like a skyscraper.” (“Skyscraper” by Demi Lovato)
• “Loving him is like driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street.” (“Red” by Taylor Swift)
• “And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind.” (“Candle in the Wind” by Elton John)
• “Like a rock, I was strong as I could be.” (“Like a Rock” by Bob Seeger)
• “I’m like a bird, I only fly away.” (“I’m Like a Bird” by Nelly Furtado)
• “Hit me like a ray of sun burning through my darkest night.” (“Halo” by Beyoncé)

How To Teach Similes

Looking for some creative ideas for teaching similes in the classroom? Try these clever activities.

Create a simile rainbow

Color similes are a terrific way to start learning this type of figurative speech. Even very young students can come up with color comparisons. Grab a free printable to use at the link, or simply color your own rainbow and add similes to each stripe.

Learn more: Simile Rainbow via The Classroom Creative

Write Hershey’s Kiss similes

Every kid loves learning with a sweet snack! After they use their five senses to describe the candy, students can write similes to bring the descriptions to life.

Learn more: Hershey’s Kiss Similes via Teacher by the Beach

Craft simile mobiles

Pick an item for the main part of the mobile, then write similes on the tags that hang from it. These would make great classroom decorations.

Learn more: Simile Mobiles via School Time Snippets

Visit Planet Simile

Use your imaginations to dream up what aliens from another planet would look like. Then, describe them using lots of creative similes.

Learn more: Planet Simile via Teaching Tales Along the Yellow Brick Road

Read a mentor text

Dive into pretty much any book, and you’ll find similes galore! Choose a text to share with your class, and have them jot down similes on sticky notes as they hear them. Add them all to an anchor chart you can refer to later on.

Learn more: Simile Mentor Text via Tara Teaches

What simile examples do you use to help drive the concept home? Come share your ideas and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, 75+ appealing alliteration examples (plus teaching ideas) ..

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Simile Definition

What is simile? Here’s a quick and simple definition:

A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. To make the comparison, similes most often use the connecting words "like" or "as," but can also use other words that indicate an explicit comparison. Eleanor Roosevelt's line, " A woman is like a teabag —you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water," is an example of simile. Roosevelt compares two unlike things, women and teabags, to describe how women reveal the full extent of their strength in tough situations.

Some additional key details about simile:

• Because the comparison established by a simile is not literal (a woman isn't literally like a teabag), similes are a form of figurative language .
• While most similes use the connecting words "like" or "as" to establish the comparison they're making, similes can use other words that create a direct comparison, including other connecting words (such as, "so" or "than") or verbs of comparison (such as, "compare" and "resemble").
• Some similes have become such a common part of everyday speech that we barely notice them, for instance, when we say "I slept like a log" or "The news hit me like a ton of bricks."

How to Pronounce Simile

Here's how to pronounce simile: sim -ih-lee

Simile vs. Metaphor

Similes and metaphors are both figures of speech that involve the comparison of unlike things. They are also both types of figurative language, because they both create meaning beyond the literal sense of their words. However, simile and metaphor do not make a comparison in the same way. Some people may explain the difference between simile and metaphor by discussing the structure of the language used in each one:

• Similes use the words "like" or "as" to establish their comparison: "The world is like your oyster."
• Metaphors state the comparison without such connecting words: "The world is your oyster."

While the presence of a connecting word, such as "like" or "as," is generally a good rule of thumb to identify similes versus metaphors, it doesn't really get at the root of the difference between the two figures of speech. A deeper way to understand the difference is through the nature of the comparison each one makes:

• A simile makes an explicit comparison by asserting that two different things are similar . A simile sets thing A and thing B side by side to compare them. In the sentence "The world is like your oyster," the listener is asked to mentally visualize and compare "the world" and "an oyster"—as though he or she were holding one in each hand—and draw a comparison between the two.
• A metaphor asserts an implicit comparison by stating that one thing is the other thing . Instead of setting two entities A and B side by side through the use of connecting words, metaphor superimposes them. The metaphor "The world is your oyster" asks the reader to imagine his or her relationship to the world as being the relationship of an oyster to the space inside its shell.

This isn't to say that either a simile or metaphor is stronger or better than the other, just that they are subtly different in the sort of comparison they create, and this difference affects how a reader imaginatively interacts with the text.

Is a Simile a Type of Metaphor?

There is also some debate about whether similes and metaphors are similar but different things, or whether simile is actually a specialized form of metaphor. Arguments on the topic can become surprisingly heated, but all you need to know is that there are competing definitions of metaphor, and whether a simile is a type of metaphor depends on the definition of metaphor you're using. For instance, the Oxford Companion to English Language gives two definitions of metaphor:

• Metaphor: All figures of speech that achieve their effect through association, comparison, and resemblance. Figures like antithesis, hyperbole, metonymy, simile are all species of metaphor.
• Metaphor: A figure of speech which concisely compares two things by saying that one is the other.

Under the first, broad definition of a metaphor, a simile is a type of metaphor. Under the second, narrower definition, it isn't.

Simile Examples

Similes appear in all sorts of writing, from prose literature, to poetry, to music lyrics, and beyond.

Examples of Simile in Literature

Writers use simile to add color and feeling to their writing and to allow readers to see something in a new way through the comparison that the simile creates. Simile can be used to render the familiar strange and unusual, to make the strange seem familiar, or to draw a surprising association between things that don't seem to belong together.

Simile in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby

In this example from The Great Gatsby , Nick Carraway describes Tom and Daisy Buchanan's mansion in Long Island. Nick is from the midwest and has never encountered the level of luxury he discovers on his first visit to the Buchanans' home:

A breeze blew through the room, blew curtains in at one end and out the other like pale flags , twisting them up toward the frosted wedding cake of the ceiling—and then rippled over the wine-colored rug, making a shadow on it as wind does on the sea. The only completely stationary object in the room was an enormous couch on which two young women were buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon. They were both in white and their dresses were rippling and fluttering as if they had just been blown back in after a short flight around the house. I must have stood for a few moments listening to the whip and snap of the curtains and the groan of a picture on the wall. Then there was a boom as Tom Buchanan shut the rear windows and the caught wind died out about the room, and the curtains and the rugs and the two young women ballooned slowly to the floor.

Not only does Fitzgerald's use of simile convey Nick's astonishment at the extent of the Buchanans' wealth, but it also enlivens what might otherwise have been an unremarkable description. Without simile, the passage would read something like, "The wind blew through the room. It ruffled the women's clothing. Tom shut the window and the wind stopped." Fitzgerald's similes bring the room to life.

Simile in Shakespeare's Sonnet 18, Sonnet 97, and Sonnet 130

No discussion of simile would be complete without a reference to Shakespeare's sonnets. One of his most well-known similes is the opening line of Sonnet 18, "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" (That simile is also a good example of a simile that contains a word other than "like" or "as" to establish its comparison.)

In Sonnet 97, the narrator compares his separation from his beloved to a barren winter, even though the couple was actually separated during the summer. (The narrator admits this in the line, "And yet this time removed was summer's time"):

How like a winter hath my absence been From thee , the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have a I felt, what dark days seen! What old December's bareness everywhere! And yet this time removed was summer's time The teeming autumn big with rich increase, Bearing the wanton burthen of the prime, Like widowed wombs after their lords' decease.

In Sonnet 130, Shakespeare challenges the traditional function of similes and the conventions of love poetry:

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damasked, red and white But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground. And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare

In Sonnet 130, Shakespeare actually comments on the way similes function within conventional sonnets about love by turning all of the would-be similes into negative similes. Instead of writing that his mistress' eyes are like the sun, that her lips are red as coral, her breasts as white as snow, and so on, Shakespeare says that her eyes are "nothing like the sun," and that, "coral is far more red" than her lips. It's as though the he's acknowledging the fact that many similes have become hackneyed or clichéd, and he's instead proposing to pay a more meaningful tribute to his love by inverting those similes and treating her like a real-life woman.

Simile in Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio

"Hands," one of the short stories in Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, tells the tale of Winesburg resident Wing Biddlebaum. Biddlebaum is a shy old man who keeps to himself, yet becomes animated and talkative in the presence of his only friend, a reporter named George Willard:

The story of Wing Biddlebaum is a story of hands. Their restless activity, like unto the beating of the wings of an imprisoned bird , had given him his name. Some obscure poet of the town had thought of it. The hands alarmed their owner. He wanted to keep them hidden away and looked with amazement at the quiet inexpressive hands of other men who worked beside him in the fields, or passed, driving sleepy teams on country roads.

The "obscure poet's" simile, which likens the "restless activity" of Wing's hands "unto the beating of the wings of an imprisoned bird" is also the source of the character's nickname. Further, Wing Biddlebaum's social role in the community is similar to that of an imprisoned bird, in the sense that he lives apart from the rest of the town, shut off from companionship.

Simile in Robert M. Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance , the narrator undertakes a cross-country motorcycle trip with his son Chris, his friend Sylvia, and her husband John. The motorists pride themselves on taking scenic backroads that prolong their journey, but better suit their solitary, contemplative style of traveling. When they cross a main road one Monday morning, Sylvia makes the following observation about the grim-looking commuters:

"It was all those people in the cars coming the other way...The first one looked so sad. And then the next one looked exactly the same way, and then the next one and the next one, they were all the same...Its just that they looked so lost... Like they were all dead. Like a funeral procession. "

Sylvia compares the drivers to members of a funeral procession because she feels that, in rushing from point A to point B, the commuters are missing out the pleasure of life and travel.

Simile in Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five

In this example from Slaughterhouse-Five , Billy Pilgrim emerges from an underground slaughterhouse where he has been held prisoner by the Germans during the deadly World War II firebombing of Dresden:

It wasn't safe to come out of the shelter until noon the next day. When the Americans and their guards did come out, the sky was black with smoke. The sun was an angry little pinhead. Dresden was like the moon now, nothing but minerals . The stones were hot. Everybody else in the neighborhood was dead.

Vonnegut compares the bombed city of Dresden to the moon in order to capture the totality of the devastation—the city is so lifeless that it is like the barren moon.

Note that Vonnegut also emphasizes the destruction of the city by exaggerating the air pollution created by the bombs ("the sky was black with smoke"). This type of exaggeration for literary or rhetorical purposes is called hyperbole, which can sometimes overlap with simile. To read more about the relationship between the two figures of speech, please see our page on hyperbole .

Examples of Simile in Music

Simile can create vivid images, making language more memorable and emotional. For this reason, musicians across genres regularly use simile in their song lyrics.

Simile in "Gone" by Kanye West

In "Gone," Kanye west compares disloyal aspiring MCs to Anakin Skywalker of Star Wars , who went bad and became Darth Vader.

I'ma open up a store for aspiring MCs Won't sell em no dream, but the inspiration is free But if they ever flip sides like Anakin You'll sell everything including the mannequin

Simile in "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John

"Candle in the Wind" is Elton John's tribute to Marylin Monroe. In referring to Marylin as a "candle in the wind," John portrays her as a vulnerable and fragile person who was often preyed upon by those who made her famous.

And it seems to me you lived your life Like a candle in the wind Never knowing who to cling to When the rain set in And I would have liked to have known you But I was just a kid Your candle burned out long before Your legend ever did

Simile in "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is many great things but "nice" is not one of them. In his most commercially successful release of all time, Dylan compares the song's addressee—presumably, an ex-girlfriend who is going through tough times—to a rolling stone:

Once upon a time you dressed so fine Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you? People call say 'beware doll, you're bound to fall' You thought they were all kidding you You used to laugh about Everybody that was hanging out Now you don't talk so loud Now you don't seem so proud About having to be scrounging your next meal How does it feel, how does it feel? To be without a home Like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone

Why Do Writers Use Simile?

Writers, and people in general, use simile to create memorable images with language, which allow them to vividly recount experiences and emotions. Poets often use simile to make concepts or ideas that are difficult to grasp more concrete, as in Langston Hughes' "A Dream Deferred":

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun ? Or fester like a sore — And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load . Or does it explode?

"A Dream Deferred" was published in Langston Hughes' collection Harlem, in which Hughes meditates on the experience of black Americans. Through the use of simile in this particular poem, Hughes gives physical heft to the dreams of black people living in Harlem and across the country—dreams which are often destroyed, postponed and ignored as a result of racial prejudice. By comparing dreams to material things, such as "raisins" and "rotten meat," Hughes implies that dreams are a concrete part of reality not to be brushed aside, and that there are very real consequences to not pursuing them.

In addition, by using similes to compare one thing or idea to a completely different thing, writers can make readers see the world in a new way. Put another way, writers can use the comparison created by a simile to reveal a figurative truth beyond the literal truth.

Other Helpful Simile Resources

• The Wikipedia Page on Simile: A very brief explanation of the term.
• The Dictionary Definition of simile: A basic definition and etymology of the term, which comes from Latin word for "image, likeness, or comparison."
• Simile vs. Metaphor: An interesting compendium of thoughts on the differences between simile and metaphor.
• A video in which "Old Spice Guy" Isaiah Mustafa shares a simile with his followers.
• A scene built around simile from Disney's Shrek .

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Simile Definition

A simile is a figure of speech in which two essentially dissimilar objects or concepts are expressly compared with one another through the use of “like” or “as.” Simile is used as a literary device to assert similarity with the help of  like or  as,  which are language constructs that establish equivalency. A proper simile creates an explicit comparison between two things that are different enough from each other such that their comparability appears unlikely.

For example, the statement “this poem is like a punch in the gut” features a simile. The poem is being explicitly compared to a “punch in the gut” with the word “like.” This is an effective simile in that a poem is not at all similar to a punch in literal terms. However, figuratively, the simile’s comparison and association between these two things establishes that the impact of the poem on the speaker has the force of and feels similar to a punch in the gut.

Common Examples of Simile

There are many common examples of simile used in everyday conversation and writing. Here are some well-known phrases that utilize this figure of speech:

• Nutty as a fruitcake
• Slept like a log
• Sly as a fox
• Fits like a glove
• Cool as a cucumber
• Blind as a bat
• Light as a feather
• Like watching paint dry
• Works like a charm
• Old as the hills
• Pretty as a picture
• Hurts like the devil
• Strong as an ox
• Fight like cats and dogs
• Sparkle like diamonds
• Cheeks like roses
• Flat as a pancake
• Eyes like glass
• Sweet as sugar
• Dull as a doorknob
• Bright as the sun
• Tough as nails
• Smart as a whip
• Mad as a hatter
• Happy as a clam

Examples of Similes for Love

One of the most common concepts to feature simile as a literary device is love. Here are some memorable lines and quotes that showcase simile as an effective comparison for describing love:

• Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop. (H.L. Mencken)
• Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit. (Khalil Gibran)
• Love is like a friendship caught on fire. (Bruce Lee)
• Love is like a faucet; it turns off and on. (Billie Holiday)
• And she said losing love is like a window in your heart; everybody sees you’re blown apart; everybody sees the wind blow (Paul Simon)
• Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead. ( Oscar Wilde )
• Love is like the wild rose-briar ( Emily Bronte )
• Falling out of love is like losing weight. It’s a lot easier putting it on than taking it off. (Aretha Franklin)
• Love is like a beautiful flower which I may not touch, but whose fragrance makes the garden a place of delight just the same. (Helen Keller)
• Love is like the measles. The older you get it, the worse the attack. (Rainer Maria Rilke)

Famous Examples of Simile

Simile is also found in many famous examples of poetry,  prose ,  drama , lyrics , and even clever quotations. Here are some famous examples of simile:

• Easy Like Sunday Morning (Lionel Richie)
• All those moments will be lost in time, like… tears in rain . (Blade Runner)
• Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. (Albert Einstein)
• That’s always seemed so ridiculous to me, that people want to be around someone because they’re pretty. It’s like picking your breakfast cereal based on color instead of taste. ( John Green )
• Not forgiving is like drinking rat poison and then waiting for the rat to die. (Anne Lamott)
• Writing a novel is like driving a car at night . You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way. (E.L. Doctorow)
• Parents are like God because you wanna know they’re out there, and you want them to think well of you, but you really only call when you need something. (Chuck Palahniuk)
• Time was passing like a hand waving from a train I wanted to be on. (Jonathan Safran Foer)
• Being with her I feel a pain, like a frozen knife stuck in my chest. (Haruki Murakami)
• Her hair, like golden threads, play ’d with her breath. ( William Shakespeare )
• Life swings like a pendulum backward and forward between pain and boredom. (Arthur Schopenhauer)
• You, just like heaven. (The Cure)
• Life is like writing with a pen. You can cross out your past but you can’t erase it. (E.B. White)
• The pain is like an axe that chops my heart. ( Yann Martel )
• We are like roses that have never bothered to bloom when we should have bloomed and it is as if the sun has become disgusted with waiting. (Charles Bukowski)

Difference Between Simile and Metaphor

Some may find it difficult to differentiate between simile  and metaphor as literary devices since both are figures of speech designed to create meaning through comparisons. Simile is actually a subset of metaphor and is distinguished by the presence of one of two words: “like” and “as.” Metaphors create direct comparisons without using either of these words, whereas similes feature either like  or  as  in making a comparison.

The following lyrics from a song featured in Walt Disney’s “Bambi” is an example that illustrates the difference between simile and metaphor:

Love is a song that never ends One simple theme repeating Like the voice of a heavenly choir Love’s sweet music flows on

The first two lines feature a metaphor. Love is directly compared to a “song that never ends.” Though love and a song are seemingly unlike entities, the metaphor connects them such that the comparison makes sense to the audience . By linking love to a song that never ends, the metaphor enhances the meaning and audience understanding of love as a concept.

The last two lines of these lyrics feature a simile. The way “love’s sweet music” flows is compared to the “voice of a heavenly choir.” The previous metaphor has established love as a song. Therefore, the simile advances this meaning by comparing love’s music to a choir voice. Rather than stating that love’s music is a choir voice and creating another metaphor, the simile indicates that love’s music is  like a choir voice. The simile enhances the imagery and audience understanding of love, established by the metaphor, with further use of figurative language .

Writing Simile

Overall, as a literary device, simile functions as a means of creating an equivalent comparison or establishing similarity between two seemingly different things. This is an effective figure of speech for readers in that simile can create an association between two dissimilar entities or ideas that illuminate each other and enhance the meaning of both. Simile is an essential literary device for writers of both poetry and prose .

It’s important that writers construct proper similes so that the comparative meaning is not lost for the reader. In fact, like metaphors, similes are dependent on the understandable combination of a principal term and a secondary term. The principal term conveys the literal entity to be described, and the secondary term is used figuratively to add meaning. For example, in the simile “the cat’s fur felt smooth as silk,” the principal term is “cat’s fur” and the secondary term is “silk.” By comparing the smooth feel of the cat’s fur to the feel of silk, the reader’s understanding of the texture of both things is enhanced through figurative language.

Here are some ways that writers benefit from incorporating simile into their work:

Create Imagery

Similes allow writers to create imagery for readers through figurative language that might otherwise be limited by just descriptive language. In other words, an effective simile eliminates the need for excessive explanation or description on the part of the writer. Instead, by creating similarity through comparing two different things, an image is created for the reader to allow for greater meaning and understanding. This imagery is a powerful result of using simile as a literary device.

Generate Thought and Emotion

When writers utilize simile as a literary device, it generates thought on the part of the reader regarding the “logic” or truth in such a comparison. These thoughts, in turn, can evoke emotion in the reader through the realization that the comparison is valid and reflects a level of truth they may not have understood before. Similes are especially effective in poetry as a means of portraying truths in a lyrical yet concise manner.

Examples of Simile in Literature

Simile is a very effective and widely used literary device. Here are some examples of simile and how it adds to the significance of literary works:

Example 1:  Horseradish (Lemony Snicket)

A library is like an island in the middle of a vast sea of ignorance, particularly if the library is very tall and the surrounding area has been flooded.

Lemony Snicket is well-known for his brilliant use of simile as a means of describing concepts, especially for children. In this line, he demonstrates not only the power of simile as a comparison between a library and an island with figurative language, but he also invokes a literal image of a library as an island. This reinforces the significance of a library as a refuge and protective haven against ignorance and other potentially destructive forces.

Example 2:  A Red, Red Rose (Robert Burns)

O my Luve’s like a red, red rose , That’s newly sprung in June; O my Luve’s like the melodie That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

In this stanza , the poet compares the person he loves both to a rose and melody. In poetry, the concept of love is often compared to a rose and/or a song. However, in this poem, Burns enhances those similes by comparing his “Luve,” an actual person rather than an abstract concept, to a rose and a song. This allows the reader to understand that the poet views the person he loves as a symbol of love itself.

Example 3:  Spring is like a perhaps hand (e.e. cummings)

Spring is like a perhaps hand (which comes carefully out of Nowhere)arranging a window,into which people look(while people stare arranging and changing placing carefully there a strange thing and a known thing here)and changing everything carefully Spring is like a perhaps Hand in a window (carefully to and fro moving New and Old things,while people stare carefully moving a perhaps fraction of flower here placing an inch of air there)and without breaking anything.

In this poem, Cummings creates an unusual simile in that the literary device compares dissimilar things in a tentative way. Most poets utilize simile as a means of asserting similarities through comparisons. However, by comparing Spring to a “perhaps” hand, the poet leaves a sense of the indefinite, and creates less of an absolute assertion of the association between Spring and a hand.

However, rather than being weak or ineffective, this “approximate” simile reinforces the meaning and imagery of the poem itself. The poem’s theme is that the changes brought about by Spring are so gentle and subtle that they are nearly unnoticeable as they are happening. Therefore, the comparison to a “perhaps” hand invokes the association between Spring and something that is all but unseen, and therefore elusive or ephemeral.

Related posts:

• 15 Visionary Simile Examples in The Bible
• 10 Imaginative Similes in 1984
• Romeo and Juliet Similes

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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of simile.

Simile is an explicit comparison between two unlike things through the use of connecting words, usually “like” or “as.” The technique of simile is known as a rhetorical analogy , as it is a device used for comparison. The other most popular rhetorical analogy is metaphor , which shares some traits and is often confused with simile. We explain the difference in greater detail below.

Difference Between Simile and Metaphor

As stated above, simile and metaphor are often confused. Though the difference is simple between the definition of simile and that of metaphor, it can be profound. While simile compares two things with the connecting words “like” or “as,” metaphor simply states that one thing is the other. For example, a simile would be, “He was as aggressive as a tiger in that argument ,” whereas a metaphor would be, “He was a tiger in that argument.” Metaphors are thus subtler and can be stronger in a rhetorical sense, because they equate the two things in comparison rather than just present them as similar. Similes, however, allow for truly bizarre comparisons that make the reader stretch to understand the connection between them.

Common Examples of Simile

There are many cliché d similes in the English language that we use regularly. Here are some examples:

• Strong as an ox
• Fit as a fiddle
• Bright as the sun
• Sweating like a pig
• White as a sheet
• His heart was as cold as ice
• Sleeping like a log
• Fast as lightning
• Dance like no one is watching

Significance of Simile in Literature

Simile can be an excellent way for an author either to make an unusual thing seem more familiar (i.e., “The planet Zenoth was as cold as ice”) or a familiar thing seem more unique (i.e., “Her smile was jagged like a broken zipper”). In this way, similes can help the reader imagine the fictive world of a piece of literature. Good similes can also make readers think about things in a new way, and can sometimes create a lasting effect. Scottish poet Robert Burns’s declaration that his “luve’s like a red, red rose” forever linked the concepts of love and red roses in our minds.

Simile can also sometimes be used to show a comparison, though with the conclusion that these two things really are unalike or even at odds with each other. This can either be a negative simile, which might come in the form of “A is not like B” (see Example #1 below) or an ironic simile, which communicates the opposite of what is expected at the beginning of the statement. For example, the famous feminist quote popularized by Gloria Steinem, “A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle,” ultimately concludes that a woman has no need for a man.

Simile can help to make new connections for the reader. One of literature’s purposes is to help better explain the world around us, and the technique of simile is one of those ways in which we are able to see things in a new way. All types of analogies are cognitive processes of transferring meaning from one thing to another, and thus the use of simile in literature has real synaptic effects. For this reason, and for aesthetic purposes, simile has been a popular literary technique for many hundreds of years.

Examples of Simile in Literature

My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips’ red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

(“ Sonnet 130” by William Shakespeare)

This excerpt from Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 130” is an example of a negative simile. Shakespeare goes against the expectation praising his mistress’s beauty and instead says what she is not like. Her lips are not as red as coral, her skin is not pure as snow, and so on. This striking simile example plays with both the tradition of sonnets as well as the usual function of similes.

Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country’s done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

( A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens)

This excerpt from Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol also plays with the tradition of similes. Dickens knowingly uses the clichéd simile “dead as a doornail” (perhaps more clichéd now than even in his day). He then investigates the simile, humorously pointing out that there is nothing “particularly dead about a doornail” and that a coffin nail would have provided a better simile. But, as he concludes, some similes display “the wisdom of our ancestors,” which is to say, not much wisdom at all.

What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore— And then run? Does it stink like rotten meat? Or crust and sugar over— like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.   Or does it explode?

(“Harlem” by Langston Hughes)

Langston Hughes uses five examples of simile in this short poem, “Harlem.” Each simile is one possibility that Hughes imagines for “a dream deferred.” The imagery was so striking in this poem that playwright Lorraine Hansberry named her famous play A Raisin in the Sun after the first simile in the poem. All of the similes in this poem share a sense of decay and burden, just like a dream that does not come to fruition.

The Radley Place fascinated Dill. In spite of our warnings and explanations it drew him as the moon draws water, but drew him no nearer than the light-pole on the corner, a safe distance from the Radley gate.

( To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee)

The classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee centers around the tragedy of Boo Radley, a man falsely accused for a crime. This evocative simile at the beginning of the novel somewhat foreshadows the main characters’ relation to Boo: the children Scout and Jem are fascinated by him as well as terrified of him. This fascination and terror draws their friend Dill “as the moon draws water,” an allusion to the way the presence of the moon changes the tides.

I wait, washed, brushed, fed, like a prize pig.

( The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood)

This simple example of simile in Margaret Atwood’s dystopic novel The Handmaid’s Tale is not so simple when looked at more closely. The protagonist of the novel is Offred, a woman whose sole purpose is to reproduce with the higher social classes. Women in this new society have had their rights entirely taken away, even to the point of their humanity. Therefore, Offred’s comparison between herself and a prize pig shows that she is treated no differently than—and no better than—an animal.

Test Your Knowledge of Simile

1. Choose the correct simile definition: A. A comparison where one thing is stated to be another. B. A comparison between two unlike things, usually using the connecting words “like” or “as.” C. A contrast between two things, showing how they are unalike.

2. Which of the following excerpts from Colum McCann’s Let the Great World Spin contains a simile? A. 

There are moments we return to, now and always. Family is like water – it has a memory of what it once filled, always trying to get back to the original stream.

Some people think love is the end of the road, and if you’re lucky enough to find it, you stay there. Other people say it just becomes a cliff you drive off…

Try to describe the taste of a peach. Try to describe it. Feel the rush of sweetness…

3. Does the following excerpt from Shakespeare’s Macbeth contain a simile, a metaphor, or both?

LADY MACBETH: Look like th’ innocent flower, / But be the serpent under ‘t.

A. Simile B. Metaphor C. Both

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• What Is a Simile? | Meaning, Definition & Examples

What Is a Simile? | Meaning, Definition & Examples

Published on 12 August 2023 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on 26 October 2023.

A simile is a rhetorical device used to compare two things using the words “like”, “as”, or “than”.

Similes can be used to create vivid imagery or to draw surprising connections between two unrelated things. They’re commonly used in literature, advertising, and everyday speech and are closely related to metaphors and analogies.

Her phone buzzed like a beehive .

The dancer was as graceful as a swan .

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Table of contents

What is a simile, simile vs metaphor, simile vs analogy, common similes, simile and metaphor worksheet, frequently asked questions.

A simile is a comparison that uses the words “like”, “as”, or “than”.

Similes are used to emphasise or exaggerate a specific quality of one thing by comparing it to something else. Similes are effective because they “show” rather than “tell” (i.e., they use descriptive language to convey an idea instead of stating it as fact).

The child moved through the room like a tornado .

His tongue is sharper than a sword .

Similes are commonly used in literature, speeches, advertising, and everyday speech. They can be used to create vivid images and to make surprising connections between two dissimilar things. However, they should be avoided in formal contexts like academic writing .

You look like your father .

You look like a million bucks .

I’m as fast as you .

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Similes and metaphors are both used to make a comparison between two unlike things. However, they have different functions:

• A simile makes an explicit comparison between two things (e.g., “love is like a battlefield”).
• A metaphor makes an implicit comparison by saying that something is something else (e.g., “love is a battlefield”).

Unlike similes , metaphors don’t use the words “like”, “as”, or “than”. Instead, they usually contain a form of the verb “be” to equate two things (e.g., “you are an angel”). This is not literal but rather used to emphasise a specific, implied quality (in this case, “kindness”).

Mrs Kennedy’s eyes were diamonds .

The moon hung in the sky like a lantern .

There are two main types of analogies:

• Identical relationship analogies indicate the logical relationship of things being compared (e.g., “A is to B as C is to D”).
• Shared abstraction analogies compare two unlike things that share a common quality to illustrate a point or make an argument.

Analogies of shared abstraction are closely related to similes, but they serve slightly different purposes. Both draw a comparison between two unlike things, but while similes are typically used to describe something, analogies of shared abstraction are used to explain something or to make an argument.

“A goal is like a compass – it gives you a sense of direction”.

Many common expressions are similes.

You can test your knowledge of the difference between similes and metaphors with the worksheet below. Choose whether each sentence contains a simile or a metaphor.

• Practice questions
• Answers and explanations
• You drink like a fish.
• Josephine is old, but she’s as fit as a fiddle.
• Life is a rollercoaster.
• Your smile is brighter than a thousand stars.
• You are an angel, but sometimes you can be as stubborn as a mule.
• This sentence contains a simile because it makes a direct comparison using the word “like”.
• This sentence contains a simile because it makes a direct comparison using the word “as”.
• This sentence contains a metaphor because it makes an implicit comparison by saying that something is something else.
• This sentence contains a simile because it makes a direct comparison using the word “than”.
• This sentence contains both a metaphor (“you are an angel”) and a simile (“as stubborn as a mule”).

Similes are sometimes confused with metaphors , but they have different functions:

• A simile draws an explicit comparison between two things using the words “like,” “as,” or “than” (e.g., “your eyes are like the ocean”).
• A metaphor draws an implicit comparison by saying something is something else (e.g. “your eyes are an ocean”).

A simile is a rhetorical device used to compare two things (typically using the words “like,” “as,” or “than”).

Many common expressions are similes, including: “as quiet as a mouse,” “as strong as an ox,” and “as fit as a fiddle.”

Similes are commonly used in literature, advertising, and everyday speech. However, they should be avoided in formal contexts like academic writing .

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What Is a Simile? | Definition & Examples

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Overview of Similes:

Introduction to similes, what is a simile, examples of similes, components of a simile, tenor and vehicle, event and comparator, understanding similes, difference between similes and metaphors, similes in literature, practice writing your own similes, three stages in writing a simile, when to use similes.

• Similes - Quiz

Are you tired of using words that hardly have anything beyond their literal meanings? Chances are you are, and you want to sound more fun and exciting using lots of powerful devices designed to make your speaking and writing a cut above the rest. The English language is blessed with a plethora of figures of speech, at the forefront of which is a simile. For students embarking on an exciting figure of speech journey, simile is one of the first few things that are sure to engage them a lot and cast on them a spell of charm.

Who hasn't heard Wordsworth's " I wandered lonely as a cloud "? A simile is a figure of speech that finds an interesting similarity between two things and phrases it using words such as "like" or "as". At the heart of a simile is a desire to strike an instant connection with the listener or reader and drive home the point with twice the ease. We don't need to refer to poems or other literary forms for similes; we use them a lot in our everyday conversations.

On Christmas eve, Grandma was as busy as a bee .

Lara said the test was as tricky as a labyrinth .

When he moved to a new city, Kevin initially felt like a fish out of water .

The soldier was as brave as a lion .

The man was as funny as a monkey .

She slept like a log all night.

A simile has four key components. They are the topic or tenor , the vehicle , the event , and the comparator .

The topic or tenor is the subject of comparison. The vehicle is the object of comparison.

Mark is as tall as a giraffe.

Mark is the tenor, and giraffe is the vehicle.

The event refers to the act or state. The comparator is the word that does the comparison: like or as.

Here, is as tall is the state, and as is the comparator.

Similes are great tools that instantly generate fun and excite the reader with the vivid pictures they bring along. Students should, however, understand how the process of a simile works, so they are able to not only spot one instantly but also to stuff their speaking and writing with lots of this figure of speech.

The "as busy as a bee" simile is one that's popularly used by English speakers across the globe.

What we are doing here is comparing Grandma on Christmas eve to a bee . The reason? They both are busy. Bees don't have it easy and have to stay busy around the clock tending to the honey combs and fanning their wings to keep the nest cool. Similarly, Grandma on Christmas eve doesn't have it easy either. She has to see the Christmas lights, decorate the house, bake a special recipe, craft Christmas gifts, and more.

If you are metaphorically inclined, telling between similes and metaphors can cause you a little confusion. This is because a simile and metaphor sound a lot like each other. The key, though, is the word "simile" itself. While a simile says someone or something is like or similar to something, a metaphor goes a step ahead and says someone or something is another. In other words, a simile will always have one of the words: as and like. A metaphor, on the other hand, doesn't use these words.

Life is like a play. (simile) Life is a play. (metaphor)

Your hands are as cold as ice. (simile) Your hands are ice. (metaphor)

You are as innocent as an angel. (simile) You are an angel. (metaphor)

Literature has always been abounding in similes. Writers use them to elevate the visual impact of a text instead of their works. Below are a few examples of similes used in literature.

"O my love is like the melody that's sweetly played in tune." (A Red, Red Rose, by Robert Burns)

"Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate." (Sonnet 18, by William Shakespeare)

"She entered with ungainly struggle like some huge awkward chicken, torn, squawking, out of its coop." (The Adventures of Three Gables, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Once students are familiar with similes, they should be encouraged to make their own similes. Obviously, they can't write fantastic similes overnight, but the idea is to help them cultivate an imaginative approach to the language in the form of similes.

First, have a clear picture of which aspect of something you wish to compare — its being beautiful, boring, delicious, huge, and so on. Secondly, think about something that has this aspect/quality in abundance. Finally, simply write the simile using as or like .

You want to describe the softness of a baby's skin. Think about something that is softer — velvet. Write the simile using as.

The baby's skin is as soft as velvet.

Although similes are creative, descriptive, and entertaining expressions, they are not indiscriminately used everywhere. We can use similes in everyday conversations, speeches, novels, and poems. However, we don't use them where figurative language doesn't work. For example, take the below sentence from a user manual, which comes under technical writing.

To ensure that operating the device is as easy as a pie, update the software regularly. (incorrect) To ensure an easy and hassle-free operation of the device, update the software regularly. (correct)

The first sentence contains a simile (as easy as a pie) and is not a good idea for the manual. The second sentence, however, is simple and free from similes or any literary devices. So, it's the better idea for the manual.

Take a Simile Quiz Now!

Hone your skills using our free printable Simile Worksheets .

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29 Similes for Students: With Everyday Comparisons

Similes are like puzzle pieces that make our language more colorful and interesting. They compare two things using the words “like” or “as” to create vivid images in our minds.

For students, understanding similes is like unlocking a secret code that adds flair to their expressions. Let’s dive into the world of similes with this list tailored just for students.

What is a Simile for Students?

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things to highlight a similarity between them. It uses the words “like” or “as” to connect the familiar with the unfamiliar, making descriptions more engaging and relatable.

If you want to learn some common sayings that people use, check out this list of idioms for students: Idioms for Students . And if you’re curious about metaphors, you can find examples of them for students here: Metaphors for Students .

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What is a simile?

Identify the simile in the following sentence: “She swims like a fish.”

What is a metaphor?

Which of the following is a metaphor?

What is an idiom?

What does the idiom “break the ice” mean?

What is an adjective?

Choose the adjective in the following sentence: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”

What is an abbreviation?

What does the abbreviation “e.g.” stand for?

What is a verb?

Identify the verb in the following sentence: “The cat sleeps on the sofa.”

“Out of the frying pan into the fire” is an example of:

Which of the following is an adjective?

The abbreviation “NASA” stands for:

Choose the metaphor in the following sentence: “Time is a thief.”

What does the idiom “hit the books” mean?

Which of the following sentences contains a simile?

“LOL” is an abbreviation for:

Identify the verb in this sentence: “They whispered secrets into the night.”

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Similes for Students

1. as curious as a cat.

Meaning: Extremely curious or inquisitive.

In a Sentence: Jenny was as curious as a cat when she found an old book in the attic.

2. Like a Sponge Soaking Up Water

Meaning: Absorbing information quickly and easily.

In a Sentence: Sarah’s mind was like a sponge soaking up water during the science experiment.

3. Sharp as a Tack

Meaning: Very intelligent or quick-witted.

In a Sentence: Jake’s math skills were as sharp as a tack; he solved the problem in seconds.

4. As Busy as a Bee

Meaning: Extremely busy or industrious.

In a Sentence: During the school play preparations, the cast and crew were as busy as bees.

5. Bright as a Button

Meaning: Very intelligent or clever.

In a Sentence: Tina’s idea for the project was as bright as a button; everyone was impressed.

6. Clear as Crystal

Meaning: Very clear or easy to understand.

In a Sentence: The teacher explained the concept, making it as clear as crystal for the students.

7. Straight as an Arrow

Meaning: Absolutely straight or direct.

In a Sentence: The path to success is like a road straight as an arrow; stay focused and follow it.

8. Like a Fish in Water

Meaning: Being in a familiar or comfortable environment.

In a Sentence: Sarah adjusted to her new school easily, feeling like a fish in water.

9. Quiet as a Mouse

Meaning: Very quiet or silent.

In a Sentence: The library was as quiet as a mouse during the reading session.

10. Fast as Lightning

Meaning: Extremely fast or quick.

In a Sentence: Tommy ran as fast as lightning to catch the school bus.

11. Happy as a Clam

Meaning: Extremely happy or content.

In a Sentence: After receiving a surprise gift, Emily was as happy as a clam.

12. Bold as Brass

Meaning: Very confident or daring.

In a Sentence: Despite being shy, Jack was as bold as brass when presenting his project.

13. Smooth as Silk

Meaning: Very smooth or effortless.

In a Sentence: The transition between scenes in the play was as smooth as silk.

14. Busy as a Beaver

Meaning: Extremely busy or hardworking.

In a Sentence: The students were as busy as beavers preparing for the upcoming exams.

15. Cool as a Cucumber

Meaning: Very calm and composed, especially in stressful situations.

In a Sentence: Even during the challenging test, Sarah remained as cool as a cucumber.

16. Free as a Bird

Meaning: Completely free or unrestricted.

In a Sentence: After finishing homework, the children felt as free as birds to play outside.

17. Quick as a Wink

Meaning: Extremely fast or swift.

In a Sentence: The cat caught the mouse as quick as a wink.

18. Light as a Feather

Meaning: Very light or weightless.

In a Sentence: With her backpack full of books, Emily felt as light as a feather after finishing her exams.

19. Fit as a Fiddle

Meaning: In good health and physical condition.

In a Sentence: After regular exercise, Jake felt as fit as a fiddle.

20. Solid as a Rock

Meaning: Very stable and dependable.

In a Sentence: The friendship between Sarah and Emily is as solid as a rock.

21. Neat as a Pin

Meaning: Very tidy and organized.

In a Sentence: Mary’s room is always as neat as a pin; you can find everything in its place.

22. Sweet as Sugar

Meaning: Extremely sweet or pleasant.

In a Sentence: Grandma’s cookies were as sweet as sugar.

23. Strong as an Ox

Meaning: Very strong and powerful.

In a Sentence: Despite his small size, Tim was as strong as an ox.

24. Fresh as a Daisy

Meaning: Very fresh and lively.

In a Sentence: After a good night’s sleep, Sarah woke up as fresh as a daisy.

25. Clear as Day

Meaning: Very clear and obvious.

In a Sentence: The answer to the riddle became as clear as day once the teacher explained it.

26. Playful as a Puppy

Meaning: Very playful and full of energy.

In a Sentence: The kids were as playful as puppies in the park.

27. Like a Duck to Water

Meaning: Learning or adapting quickly and easily.

In a Sentence: Sarah took to playing the piano like a duck to water; she learned it effortlessly.

28. Steady as a Clock

Meaning: Very consistent and reliable.

In a Sentence: Despite challenges, Sarah’s progress in math was as steady as a clock.

29. Wise as an Owl

Meaning: Very wise or intelligent.

In a Sentence: Grandma’s advice was as wise as an owl; it always guided us in the right direction.

10 Quizzes About The Similes in The Article

Quiz 1: simile meanings.

• What does the simile “As curious as a cat” mean?
• a) Extremely sleepy
• b) Extremely curious or inquisitive
• c) Extremely playful
• What does the simile “Like a sponge soaking up water” imply?
• a) Avoiding information
• b) Absorbing information quickly and easily
• c) Ignoring information

Quiz 2: Completing Simile Sentences

• Finish the sentence: “Jenny was as _ as a cat when she found an old book.”
• In the phrase “Sarah’s mind was like a sponge soaking up water during the experiment,” what does “like a sponge soaking up water” suggest?
• a) Slow learner
• b) Absorbing information quickly

Quiz 3: Identifying Simile Characteristics

• What characteristic does the simile “Bright as a button” emphasize?
• a) Intelligence
• The simile “Quiet as a mouse” suggests:
• a) Being noisy
• b) Being very quiet or silent
• c) Being energetic

Quiz 4: Connecting Similes to Meanings

• If someone is described as “Bold as brass,” what does that mean?
• a) Shy and reserved
• b) Very confident or daring
• c) Timid and afraid
• What does the simile “Smooth as silk” suggest about a transition?
• a) Rough and uneven
• b) Very smooth and effortless
• c) Unpredictable

Quiz 5: Matching Similes to Meanings

Match the following similes with their meanings:

• “Fast as lightning”
• a) Extremely happy or content
• “Steady as a clock”
• b) Extremely fast or swift

Quiz 6: Completing Simile Sentences

• Finish the sentence: “The library was as _ as a mouse during the reading session.”
• In the phrase “Tommy ran as fast as lightning to catch the school bus,” what does “as fast as lightning” describe?
• b) Extremely fast
• c) Casually

Quiz 7: Identifying Simile Characteristics

• What characteristic does the simile “Cool as a cucumber” emphasize?
• a) Temperature
• b) Calmness and composure
• c) Spiciness
• The simile “Free as a bird” suggests:
• a) Being trapped
• b) Completely free or unrestricted
• c) Flying clumsily

Quiz 8: Connecting Similes to Meanings

• If someone is described as “Solid as a rock,” what does that mean?
• a) Unreliable
• b) Very stable and dependable
• c) Easily shaken
• What does the simile “Neat as a pin” suggest about an environment?
• a) Cluttered and messy
• b) Very tidy and organized

Quiz 9: Matching Similes to Meanings

• “Fit as a fiddle”
• a) In good health and physical condition
• “Clear as day”
• b) Extremely clear and obvious

Quiz 10: Completing Simile Sentences

• Finish the sentence: “Grandma’s advice was as _ as an owl; it always guided us in the right direction.”
• b) Confusing
• In the phrase “The kids were as playful as puppies in the park,” what does “as playful as puppies” suggest about the kids?
• b) Very playful and full of energy

Similes bring language to life, helping us paint pictures with words. Understanding these expressions is like having a secret code to make your writing more interesting and engaging.

About the author

Dr. Julia Rossi

Dr. Julia Rossi , a luminary in the field of linguistics, earned her Ph.D. with a groundbreaking thesis that delved into the cultural and historical dimensions of idioms, metaphors, and similes. Her work, spanning decades, has brought to light the dynamic nature of idiomatic expressions, illustrating how they serve as cultural artifacts, revealing the collective consciousness of a society. Rossi’s publications, widely acclaimed in academic circles, have not only expanded our understanding of idioms but have also paved the way for a more nuanced appreciation of cross-cultural communication.

Word Of The Day

Ephemeral (adjective) :

• Lasting for a very short time; short-lived; transitory.
• Existing only briefly; temporary; fleeting.

Example sentence: “The beauty of the cherry blossoms is ephemeral, lasting only a few weeks each spring.”

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• What Is a Simile? | Meaning, Definition & Examples

What Is a Simile? | Meaning, Definition & Examples

Published on August 12, 2023 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on October 26, 2023.

A simile is a rhetorical device used to compare two things using the words “like,” “as,” or “than.”

Similes can be used to create vivid imagery or to draw surprising connections between two unrelated things. They’re commonly used in literature, advertising, and everyday speech and are closely related to metaphors and analogies.

Her phone buzzed like a beehive .

The dancer was as graceful as a swan .

Table of contents

What is a simile, simile vs. metaphor, simile vs. analogy, common similes, simile and metaphor worksheet, frequently asked questions about a simile.

A simile is a comparison that uses the words “like,” “as,” or “than.”

Similes are used to emphasize or exaggerate a specific quality of one thing by comparing it to something else. Similes are effective because they “show” rather than “tell” (i.e., they use descriptive language to convey an idea instead of stating it as fact).

The child moved through the room like a tornado .

His tongue is sharper than a sword .

Similes are commonly used in literature, speeches, advertising, and everyday speech. They can be used to create vivid images and to make surprising connections between two dissimilar things. However, they should be avoided in formal contexts like academic writing .

You look like your father .

You look like a million bucks .

I’m as fast as you .

Similes and metaphors are both used to make a comparison between two unlike things. However, they have different functions:

• A simile makes an explicit comparison between two things (e.g., “love is like a battlefield”).
• A metaphor makes an implicit comparison by saying that something is something else (e.g., “love is a battlefield”).

Unlike similes , metaphors don’t use the words “like,” “as,” or “than.” Instead, they usually contain a form of the verb “be” to equate two things (e.g., “you are an angel”). This is not literal but rather used to emphasize a specific, implied quality (in this case, “kindness”).

Mrs. Kennedy’s eyes were diamonds .

The moon hung in the sky like a lantern .

There are two main types of analogies:

• Identical relationship analogies indicate the logical relationship of things being compared (e.g., “A is to B as C is to D”).
• Shared abstraction analogies compare two unlike things that share a common quality to illustrate a point or make an argument.

Analogies of shared abstraction are closely related to similes, but they serve slightly different purposes. Both draw a comparison between two unlike things, but while similes are typically used to describe something, analogies of shared abstraction are used to explain something or to make an argument.

“A goal is like a compass —it gives you a sense of direction.”

Many common expressions are similes.

You can test your knowledge of the difference between similes and metaphors with the worksheet below. Choose whether each sentence contains a simile or a metaphor.

• Practice questions
• Answers and explanations
• You drink like a fish.
• Josephine is old, but she’s as fit as a fiddle.
• Life is a rollercoaster.
• Your smile is brighter than a thousand stars.
• You are an angel, but sometimes you can be as stubborn as a mule.
• This sentence contains a simile because it makes a direct comparison using the word “like.”
• This sentence contains a simile because it makes a direct comparison using the word “as.”
• This sentence contains a metaphor because it makes an implicit comparison by saying that something is something else.
• This sentence contains a simile because it makes a direct comparison using the word “than.”
• This sentence contains both a metaphor (“you are an angel”) and a simile (“as stubborn as a mule”).

Similes are sometimes confused with metaphors , but they have different functions:

• A simile draws an explicit comparison between two things using the words “like,” “as,” or “than” (e.g., “your eyes are like the ocean”).
• A metaphor draws an implicit comparison by saying something is something else (e.g. “your eyes are an ocean”).

A simile is a rhetorical device used to compare two things (typically using the words “like,” “as,” or “than”).

Many common expressions are similes, including: “as quiet as a mouse,” “as strong as an ox,” and “as fit as a fiddle.”

Similes are commonly used in literature, advertising, and everyday speech. However, they should be avoided in formal contexts like academic writing .

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A simile is a direct comparison of two different and often unrelated objects. Similes  are useful for making creative writing come to life. Common similes include run like the wind , busy as a bee , or as happy as a clam .

Before looking at any examples, you should try a little brainstorming exercise. First, jot down a list of characteristics of the subject you're writing about. For example, is it noisy, dense, or annoying? Once you have a shortlist completed, look over those characteristics and try to imagine an unrelated object that shares those characteristics.

This list of similes will help you come up with your own examples.

Similes That Include the Word "Like"

Many similes are easy to identify because they include the word "like."

• The cat slipped through the crack like liquid.
• The delicious smell meandered through the house like a stream.
• That bed was like a pile of rocks.
• My heart is racing like a frightened rabbit.
• The fire alarm was like a screaming baby.
• Watching that movie was like watching paint dry.
• The winter air was like a cold razor.
• The hotel was like a castle.
• My brain was like a sun-baked brick during the exam.
• I shook like a rattlesnake's tail.
• Being grounded is like living in an empty desert.
• The alarm was like a doorbell in my head.
• My feet were like frozen turkeys.
• His breath was like a fog from a haunted bog.

As-As Similes

Some similes use the word "as" to compare two objects. 

• That kid can run as fast as a cheetah.
• He's as cute as a frog's dimple.
• This sauce is as hot as the sun.
• My tongue is as dry as burnt toast.
• Your face is as red as hot coals.
• His feet were as big as a tree.
• The air was as cold as the inside of a freezer.
• These bed sheets are as scratchy as sandpaper.
• The sky is as dark as ink.
• I was as cold as a snowman.
• I'm as hungry as a bear in springtime.
• That dog is as messy as a tornado.
• My sister is as shy as a newborn fawn.
• His words were as soft as snowflakes on a leaf.

Similes can add a creative flourish to your paper, but they can be tricky to get right. And remember: similes are great for creative essays, but not really appropriate for academic papers.

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What Is a Simile?

Definition of "simile".

Table of Contents

Examples of Similes

Examples of famous similes, examples of funny similes, similes vs metaphors, video lesson, why similes are important.

Formal Definition

• As brave as a lion
• As quiet as a mouse
• As busy as a bee
• As strong as an ox
• As white as snow
• As light as a feather
• As blind as a bat
• As happy as a clam
• As slippery as an eel
• As sly as a fox
• As stubborn as a mule
• As cool as a cucumber
• As quick as a flash
• As sharp as a razor
• As hot as hell
• As old as the hills
• As slow as molasses
• As hard as nails
• As proud as a peacock
• As smooth as silk
• He is hungry like a wolf.
• She sings like an angel.
• His woollen scarf hung around his neck like a dead skunk.
• He was as cool as the other side of the pillow.
• "Life is like a camera, focus on the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don't work out, take another shot." (Anon)
• "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee." (Boxer Muhammad Ali)
• "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get." (Forrest Gump)
• "Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder." (American naturalist Henry David Thoreau)
• A room without books is like a body without a soul. (Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero)
• Writing about music is like dancing about architecture. (English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello)
• As lost as a penguin in the Sahara
• As useful as a chocolate teapot
• As smart as a bag of hammers
• As quiet as a herd of elephants
• As graceful as a hippopotamus on roller skates
• As fast as a snail on tranquilizers
• As confused as a chameleon in a bag of Skittles
• As helpful as a screen door on a submarine
• As fashionable as a mullet haircut
• As popular as a skunk at a garden party
• He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
• Duct tape is like the force — it has a light side, a dark side, and it holds the universe together. (American comedian Carl Zwanzig)
• Dealing with network executives is like being nibbled to death by ducks. (American author Eric Sevareid)
• I'm as pure as the driven slush. (American actress Tallulah Bankhead)
• His teeth looked like an unkempt picket fence.
• He rolled out of bed like a fruit fly stuck in honey.
• Her vocabulary was like , yeah, whatever.

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

(Reason 1) A simile can be a great way to explain or promote an idea.

• "Plan A would be like throwing the pilot out of a stricken aircraft to make it lighter."
• Similes prove nothing, but yet they greatly lighten and relieve the tedium of argument. (Poet Robert South)

(Reason 2) A tired simile can sink you.

• "The first man to compare the cheeks of a young woman to a rose was obviously a poet; the first to repeat it was possibly an idiot." (Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali)
• Expressing an idea with a simile is like printing your mind's eye.
• If it's appropriate for your business document, you can use a fresh simile to clarify or to highlight your idea. But don't use two.

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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Similes and Metaphors

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Similes and Metaphors – Introduction

Metaphors – definition, similes – definition, similes and metaphors – examples, similes and metaphors – lists, similes and metaphors – summary, frequently asked questions about similes and metaphors.

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Basics on the topic Similes and Metaphors

Similes and metaphors are both considered types of figurative language , so both similes and metaphors can be called figures of speech .

What do Metaphors and Similes do? They are used to compare two things that are not actually alike. They do not have their literal everyday meaning, which means that the reader has to determine what the author is actually trying to say.

Authors often use similes and metaphors in poetry, drama, and prose, to add detail, explain, express emotion, or entertain readers by describing something they can visualize.

Metaphors compare two things by saying one thing is the other. The word metaphor comes from two Latin words - meta (meaning “beyond”) and phor (meaning “carrying”, so) to determine what the author is trying to say, you must carry the meaning of the word beyond its literal definition.

For example:

In this sentence, the computers are being compared to old dinosaurs , but not because they look like old dinosaurs! To understand the meaning, we need to look beyond the words. What is the author trying to say? Probably, that the computers are very old and slow, just like old dinosaurs!

The word simile comes from the Latin word similis , which means “similar” or “like”. Similes compare two things using the words ”like” or ”as” .

In this sentence, the unicorn is being compared to cotton candy. How do we know it is a simile? Because the unicorn and cotton candy are compared using ”as” .

Now let’s practice! Can you determine these similes’ and metaphors' meaning?

• Emma swims like a fish!
• The baby was as cute as a kitten.
• Jim’s heart is pure gold!
• Kate said: “Thank you for helping me with my homework, Mom, you’re a superhero!”

Check yourself: What is the author trying to say here? Emma is a really good swimmer. The baby was extremely cute. Jim is very kind. Kate is especially grateful that her Mom helped her with her homework.

There are multiple stories and poems with similes and metaphors, and there are many different examples of each. However, there are some common metaphors and similes, such as ones that compare people to different animals. Check out this list of similes and metaphors below.

Metaphors and similes are both examples of figurative language . They are used to compare two things. Similes use like or as to compare things. Metaphors compare things by saying that one is the other.

Now seeing some metaphors and similes examples and a common similes and metaphors list, you can successfully compare and contrast metaphors and similes and their purposes! When someone asks you questions like “What are 5 examples of a metaphor?” or “What are 10 examples of similes?”, you’ll have the answer! If you want more practice, check out our similes and metaphors worksheets in PDF, as well as our fun similes and metaphors activities!

Want to learn more about figurative language? This interactive video is similes and metaphors, so you will be able to identify them. There are also videos that can teach you about hyperboles, onomatopoeia, and personification. Check out more figurative language with our other videos.

• Everyday metaphors are firmly embedded in the vocabulary of a language. When they are no longer perceived as metaphors, they are called faded , dead , or unconscious metaphors .
• A personification is a special form of a metaphor where a human quality is ascribed to a non-human thing. For example: the sun laughs .
• In contrast to metaphor, allegory denotes more complex facts or thoughts, for example abstract concepts. Allegories are found in a lot of fables. The situations that happen to animals in fables represent situations that happen to people in society.

Both similes and metaphors are used to compare two things.

Similes use like or as to compare things, but metaphors do not. Metaphors compare two things by saying that one thing is the other.

Some examples of similes and metaphors include like a fish , as quiet as a mouse , heart of gold .

Transcript Similes and Metaphors

"WOW Koko! I can't believe we waited so long to visit Kakadu National Park, this place is amazing! "Too bad Bertha decided to wait outside, this cave even has ancient writings!" "I know! Here it says, 'She shivered. Today was the day she would try to swim for the first time, and she was trembling like a horse who saw a rattlesnake. “You can do this, you’re a rock star,” she told herself. She jumped in and she felt a smile spread as wide as the Australian Outback across her face.' "But the drawing here shows they're talking about a hippo, (...) what's the deal with the rattlesnake and rock star?" Let's help Pip and Koko understand the ancient writings by learning about... Similes and Metaphors Similes and metaphors are figures of speech that compare two things that are not actually alike. As the reader, it is important to determine what the author is ACTUALLY trying to say in a text. These are types of figurative language that authors use to add detail, explain, express emotion, and describe in a way readers can visualize... making it more entertaining! Simile comes from the Latin word 'similis' which means SIMILAR or LIKE and... a simile compares two things using the words "like" or "as". For example, 'the unicorn was as pink and fluffy AS cotton candy'... compares the unicorn's characteristics to cotton candy. This tells us that the unicorn is VERY pink and VERY fluffy! Metaphor comes from the Latin words 'meta', which means beyond, and 'phor' which means carrying. It compares two things by saying one IS the other, and DOESN'T use like or as. That means you must carry its meaning beyond the words you see! For example, 'the computers at school are old dinosaurs'... compares the age of the computers to senior dinosaurs. This tells us that the computers are very old and may not work quickly. Let's identify the similes and metaphors used in the cave's ancient writing and determine the meaning. The writing says: 'she was trembling like a horse who saw a rattlesnake'. Is this a simile OR metaphor? (...) Simile, because the author uses the word LIKE to compare. What is the author trying to say? (...) Since a horse would be very scared to see a rattlesnake, we can conclude that the author is expressing how scared she is to swim. Next, the writing says: 'you can do this, you're a rock star'. Is this a simile OR metaphor? (...) Metaphor, because the author is comparing by stating she IS a rock star. What is the author telling the reader? (...) She is trying to encourage herself to be successful, by calling herself a rock star, which is someone who has reached great success in their rock music career. Last, the writing says: 'she felt a smile spread as wide as the Australian Outback across her face.' Is this a simile OR metaphor? (...) Simile, because the author uses the word AS to compare. What is the author telling the reader? (...) Since the Australian Outback is a huge area, we can conclude that the author is stating she had a big smile and feels happy. Before we follow Pip and Koko as they keep exploring, let's summarize. Remember, (...) similes and metaphors are figures of speech that compare two things that are not actually alike. A simile compares two things using the words like (...) or as. A metaphor compares two things by saying one IS the other and DOESN'T use like or as. While reading, think: what is the author trying to tell the reader? (...) Then, explain in your own words the literal meaning of the phrase. "Oh there you are Bertha! You'll never believe what we just found! Ancient writings that describe a story about a hippo JUST LIKE YOU!" [Koko realizes Bertha wrote everything they saw and Bertha smiles embarrassed/shamefully chuckles]

Similes and Metaphors exercise

Determine if the sentences are true..

As everyone has a different opinion, it is best to try and interpret what the author of a text intends it to mean. Otherwise, there are many different and conflicting interpretations of the text.

There are 3 true choices and 1 false.

• Similes compare two things that are not truly alike.
• Authors use similes to add details, explain ideas, express emotions, and make a text more entertaining.
• Similes compare two things by using the words like or as .
• As the reader, you should interpret similes however you like best.

Identify similes and metaphors.

Metaphors compare two things by saying one thing is the other.

Similes compare how two things are similar to each other by using the words like or as .

Two examples are similes and two examples are metaphors .

• The unicorn was as pink and fluffy as cotton candy is an example of a simile because the author compares the unicorn and cotton candy by using the word as .
• She was trembling like a horse who saw a rattlesnake is an example of a simile because the author compares the subject and a rattlesnake by using the word like .
• The computers at school are old dinosaurs is an example of a metaphor because the author says the computer actually is a dinosaur.
• You can do this! You're a rock star! is an example of a metaphor because the author says the subject actually is a rock star.

There are 3 similes and 1 metaphor.

• My big brother is as strong as an ox!
• She swims like a fish!
• He is as quiet as a mouse.
• The world is a stage and I'm the star!

Connect the simile or metaphor to the meaning.

Similes and metaphors compare two things that are not exactly alike. Example: My grandmother is as wise as an owl. My grandmother does not actually look or behave like an owl.

It is important to determine what the author actually means when they use a simile or metaphor. Example: They are as cold as ice. This person is not actually physically cold. This simile refers to their personality being cold or calm.

• This place is a zoo actually means this area is chaotic and crazy .
• I'm a complete night owl actually means I like to be awake and active late at night .
• It's as clean as a whistle actually means it is exceptionally clean .
• I feel as fresh as a daisy actually means I feel very awake, energetic, and enthusiastic .

Find key words for similes.

The unicorn was as pink and fluffy as cotton candy is an example of a simile .

Not all descriptive sentences are similes . Example: I like lions, even though they are fierce is not a simile because it does not compare two things.

There are two correct choices and two false choices.

The words, like , and as are key words that indicate something is a simile when comparing two things to each other.

Find the meaning of the simile or metaphor.

Similes compare how two things are similar to each other. How could a person be similar to a cucumber ?

Metaphors compare two things by saying one thing is the other. If someone "helps your soul blossom", how have they treated you?

• My sister is cool as a cucumber means that my sister is calm and low key .
• This test is a breeze means that the test is very easy .
• Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom means that you should appreciate people who are good to you .
• It is music to my ears means that I have received very good news .

Using Context Clues to Find Meaning

Multiple Meaning Words

Words with Positive and Negative Connotation

Determining the Meaning of Key Words and Phrases in Non-Fiction

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Simile worksheets.

A simile is a comparison between two different things using the word "like" or "as." Common Core State Standards require students to be able to identify and analyze similes and other figurative language techniques at around the third or fourth grade level. Many of the simile worksheets that I've found online are very basic and intended for students at the early levels of figurative language study. My worksheets are a bit more rigorous in the language that is used (which draws from classic and modern poetry) as well as the performance task required: in these worksheets students are to identify the two things being compared in each simile and then explain what the speaker was attempting to express in literal language. This forces students to truly consider the meaning of the simile in addition to identifying it. If you find that the language used in these worksheets is too challenging for your students, feel free to download the .rtf files and modify them for your classroom.

Figurative Language Common Core State Standards

Dashiya robinson.

A simile is a sentence that uses like or as and combining the two sentences about any subject

Please don’t confuse a simile with a complex sentence. Similes make comparisons between two dissimilar things using the words like or as .

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Thank you. I hope to use this for my class.

Let me know how it goes if you do. Best wishes!

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Simile for Students

Welcome to the enlightening realm of similes, the literary tool that adds spark to student essays and narratives. Tailored especially for budding writers, our extensive collection of simile examples empowers students to paint vivid pictures with words. Whether you’re crafting an assignment or spicing up a story, delve into our insights on how to write similes and invaluable tips to make your content shine brighter. Dive in, learn, and transform your writing journey!

What is a Simile for Students? – Definition

A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things, typically using the words “like” or “as.” It’s a way to describe something by comparing it to something else, making the description more vivid and relatable. Simile for students are an essential tool in creative writing and literary analysis, allowing them to express ideas more vividly and understand nuanced meanings in texts.

What is the Best Example of Simile for Students?

“She studied as if her life depended on it.” This simile emphasizes the student’s dedication and intensity towards studying, likening it to a life-or-death situation, making the effort and urgency she puts into her work immediately clear and relatable.

100 Simile Examples for Students

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Similes breathe life into ordinary ideas, making them vivid and relatable. Especially for students, similes act as windows into the world of creative expression and literary richness. From playful comparisons to thoughtful parallels, here’s a curated list of 100 similes tailored for students, sparking imagination and deepening understanding in both writing and reading.

• As busy as a bee during springtime.
• Her laughter was like the tinkling of bells.
• He stood out like a sore thumb.
• Reading the chapter was like trying to decipher a code.
• The playground was as deserted as a ghost town at noon.
• His patience was thin as ice on a sunny day.
• The news spread like wildfire through the school.
• The class was silent as a graveyard at midnight.
• Her answer was as clear as mud.
• He’s as stubborn as a mule.
• The day was as hot as the surface of the sun.
• Her voice was as smooth as silk.
• As slow as a snail in a marathon.
• The math problem was as puzzling as a maze.
• She was as curious as a cat.
• His temper flared up like a matchstick.
• The story was as gripping as a roller coaster ride.
• The test was as easy as pie.
• Her eyes sparkled like diamonds in sunlight.
• He was as tall as a giraffe among the kids.
• The new kid was as fresh as a daisy.
• The movie was as boring as watching paint dry.
• His explanation was as clear as crystal.
• They argued like cats and dogs.
• The answer was on the tip of my tongue, like a forgotten song.
• The athlete ran like the wind.
• The puppy was as playful as a baby.
• She danced like a leaf in the wind.
• The stars were like diamonds scattered on black velvet.
• The footballer was as agile as a monkey.
• The novel was a roller coaster of emotions, taking the reader up and down.
• Her smile was as bright as the sun on a summer day.
• The soup was as cold as ice.
• As old as the hills and just as green.
• His performance was like icing on the cake.
• The rumor spread like butter on warm toast.
• The child’s imagination was as limitless as the universe.
• The days dragged on like a never-ending story.
• Her kindness was like a ray of sunshine on a rainy day.
• The computer was as slow as molasses.
• He was as brave as a lion in battle.
• The water was as clear as the sky.
• The book’s ending was as unexpected as a twist in a maze.
• She sang like an angel.
• The baby was as cute as a button.
• The math equations looked like Greek to him.
• The concert was as loud as thunder.
• The teacher was as wise as an owl.
• The car roared like a lion.
• The solution was as simple as ABC.
• The joke was as flat as a pancake.
• He floated through the dance floor like a leaf on water.
• As quick as a flash, she finished the quiz.
• The house was as messy as a pig’s sty.
• Her hair was as wild as a lion’s mane.
• He’s as sharp as a tack when it comes to math.
• The secret was guarded as closely as a treasure.
• Their love was as deep as the ocean.
• The moon shone like a beacon in the night.
• The mountain stood as still as a statue.
• Her skills were like a hidden gem.
• The test felt like a walk in the park.
• He swam like a fish in the water.
• The pie was as sweet as honey.
• The days were as long as a century.
• The victory was as sweet as candy.
• His heart raced like a drumbeat.
• She’s as light as a feather.
• The ice cream melted as quickly as a snowflake on a hot stove.
• The city was alive, buzzing like a beehive.
• The music was as soothing as a mother’s lullaby.
• The clouds were as fluffy as cotton candy.
• He’s as blind as a bat without his glasses.
• The storm was as fierce as a lion’s roar.
• She was as graceful as a swan.
• The journey was as long as an epic saga.
• The results came in as fast as lightning.
• He’s as cool as a cucumber under pressure.
• The forest was as peaceful as a dream.
• The cloth was as rough as sandpaper.
• She’s as neat as a pin when it comes to her room.
• The car’s engine purred like a kitten.
• The lesson was as dull as dishwater.
• His jokes are as funny as a clown’s antics.
• The cake was as light as air.
• His mood was as dark as a stormy sky.
• The project was as challenging as climbing a mountain.
• The flower bloomed like a sun in the garden.
• He felt as free as a bird.
• The assignment was as hard as nails.
• The night was as silent as a library.
• Her hair flowed like a golden river.
• The castle was as grand as a palace.
• He was as hungry as a wolf.
• The tune was as catchy as a jingle.
• The chocolate was as smooth as velvet.
• Her beauty was as timeless as a classic painting.
• The tree’s bark was as rough as a rock.
• The drink was as tangy as a lemon.
• The ending was as surprising as finding a needle in a haystack.

Funny Simile Examples for Students

Funny Similes can often bring humor to our language by creating hilarious visuals. Students, with their budding creativity, can get especially tickled by these funny comparisons. Dive into these laugh-out-loud similes tailored specifically for students’ giggles and chuckles.

• He was as sneaky as a ninja in a silent disco.
• My backpack is as organized as a monkey’s tea party.
• Her new shoes squeaked like a mouse in a quiet room.
• My room’s as clean as a pig’s dining table.
• Studying for exams feels like trying to fit an elephant in a fridge.
• His dance moves were as graceful as a chicken on roller skates.
• The lunch line was as chaotic as a popcorn machine.
• My homework dog ate it, and now it’s as messy as a tornado’s breakfast.
• Her joke made me laugh harder than a hyena at a comedy show.
• The computer froze like a deer caught in headlights.

Short Simile Examples for Students

Brevity is the soul of wit! Short similes have the ability to capture big ideas with just a few words, making them perfect tools for students looking to punch up their prose. Here are some concise and impactful similes for students’ literary arsenal.

• Bright as a star.
• Fast as a rocket.
• Silent as a mouse.
• Sticky as gum.
• Fresh as mint.
• Smooth as silk.
• Shiny as gold.
• Cold as ice.
• Hot as lava.
• Soft as a cloud.

Simile Examples for Kids

Simile example for Kids possess boundless imagination, and similes act as bridges between the real and the fantastical for them. Using familiar yet imaginative comparisons, these similes are sure to resonate with young minds and further kindle their creativity.

• The pillow felt like a marshmallow.
• His toy car zoomed like a shooting star.
• The sky was as blue as a robin’s egg.
• The ice cream was as cold as the North Pole.
• Her teddy bear was as soft as a bunny’s fur.
• The tree was as tall as a giant’s ladder.
• The snowflake danced like a fairy.
• The rainbow looked like a painter’s palette.
• The cookie was as round as the moon.
• The sun felt like a warm blanket.

Kid-Friendly Simile Examples

For children beginning to delve into the world of literature, kid-friendly similes can make complex ideas easier to grasp. These comparisons, rooted in a child’s daily experiences, can make reading and writing more engaging and relatable.

• The puppy was as playful as a kindergartener during recess.
• Her drawing was as colorful as a box of crayons.
• The pond was as still as a sleeping baby.
• The grass felt like a plush carpet underfoot.
• His laugh sounded like jingling bells.
• The cake tasted like a slice of heaven.
• The night was as dark as a room with closed blinds.
• The apple was as red as a stop sign.
• The raindrop felt like a tiny high-five on my nose.
• The kitten’s purr was as soothing as a lullaby.

How do you Write a Simile for Students? – Step by Step Guide

• Understanding Simile Basics: Begin by ensuring you know what a simile is: a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two different things using “like” or “as.”
• Select Your Subject: Determine what you’re trying to describe. Is it an emotion, a person, an object, or an event? For example, you might want to describe how fast a student reads.
• Brainstorm Descriptive Qualities: Think about the most prominent features or characteristics of your subject. Using our reading speed example, we might note that the student reads quickly.
• Identify Familiar Comparisons: Think about other things known for that quality. Something that is quick? Perhaps a cheetah or a sports car.
• Construct Your Simile: Use “like” or “as” to create the comparison. “He reads like a speeding bullet” or “Her reading speed is as fast as a cheetah.”
• Test It Out: Share your simile with others, especially students, to ensure it’s understandable and effective.
• Add Creative Twists (Optional): For older students, consider adding a twist or play on words for a deeper impact or humor.
• Practice: Like any other skill, writing similes improves with practice. Encourage students to try crafting their own and sharing them with the class.

Tips for Writing Similes for Students

• Keep It Relevant: Use comparisons that are familiar to the age group. A kindergartener might not understand a simile that references a Shakespearean play, for instance.
• Simplicity is Key: Especially for younger students, the more straightforward the simile, the better. It helps in comprehension and retention.
• Encourage Originality: While it’s tempting to stick to common similes, encourage students to think outside the box. Original similes often have more impact.
• Use Visual Aids: Especially for younger students or English learners, visual aids can help make the connection clearer. If you’re comparing something to a lion’s roar, show a picture of a lion.
• Interactive Learning: Use games or group activities to practice simile construction. For instance, you can have a game where one student says an adjective (like “slippery”), and others come up with similes using that word.
• Reinforce with Examples: Regularly expose students to similes in their reading material. When they come across one, discuss it.
• Feedback is Crucial: Provide feedback on the similes your students create. Praise their efforts and offer constructive suggestions when needed.
• Relate to Personal Experiences: Ask students to draw upon their own experiences when crafting similes. It makes the exercise more personal and memorable.
• Avoid Clichés: Overused similes can lose their impact. While it’s okay to use classics like “busy as a bee,” also encourage students to create fresh comparisons.
• Stay Culturally Sensitive: Remember that not all similes will be universally understood, especially in diverse classrooms. Be mindful of cultural differences and encourage inclusive comparisons

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Simile vs. Metaphor (Definition, Comparison, Examples)

What is a simile? And how is it different from a metaphor ? How should a person use a simile in their writing? And what is the importance of using them? This can be a confusing subject for English writers and speakers.

Learn about similes in this English worksheet…

What is a simile?

Simile is a derivative of similis, a Latin word that means like or similar. Poetries are usually described as improvised prose because they can express vivid and dense imaginations. Similes are among such oldest poetic tools to accomplish the same. From the start of recognizing poetry as a viable art form, Aristotle theorized the use and purpose of similes.

The vast majority of similes function in a sensory state, and the phrase sensory simile can describe the verse across the range of literary and poetic history.

A simile compares two things directly. Referred to as a figure of speech , a simile highlights similarities by using comparative words between two nouns . These are words such as like, so, as or than.

Sometimes people confuse a simile with a metaphor. Nonetheless, it is essential to note that similes enhance the imagery via comparing an idea or object to another, primarily unrelated ones. Similes that are strongest operate using an analogy in the physical sense.

For example, “my love for you is akin to a red rose” is an excellent illustration of it. Love is abstract, and to express it in vitality, Robert Burns, the poet, compared it with a red rose. Roses are fragrant, lush, and colorful and help express the understanding and meaning of deep love.

How are Similes Structured?

There are two kinds of distinct simile structures:

Rhetorical Simile

This is the simile most people are familiar with. The rhetorical traditional simile follows with like a or as a structure. Some examples of rhetorical simile are:

• As chilled as a freezer
• As lengthy as a skipping rope
• Has eyesight like an eagle
• As sharp as a hacksaw
• As strong as King Kong

Epic or Homeric Simile

An Epic or Homeric simile follows a similar pattern to rhetorical similes, usually stretched over many lines rather than wrapped neatly in five or four words.

Homeric, derived from the Greek writer named Homer, Homeric similes are grander and typically find a place in poetry to stress some heroism or the subject. When you compare a simile vs a metaphor, if you understand the patterns of similes, you can grasp the distinctions.

When to Avoid Using Similes

A simile uses comparative words such as like or as to create a link between two things. Often, images help us understand what the writer is trying to express and brings us to a level of appreciation and awareness.

On some occasions, the use of a simile can be overkill. Adhere to these suggestions:

• Do not use imagery or simile if you are trying to evoke an idea or a feeling distinct from the writing itself.
• Simile in writing is ideally used to bring out that extra meaning or dimension to the scene or the moment. This may not be explicit in the text, so a simile will generate an idea.

If you are not trying to evoke anything specific in your reader’s mind, then you should avoid using a simile.

When using a simile in writing, you should question whether the image or simile should best be used as metaphor?

Does your writing allow the reader to understand the meaning without giving into your temptation to give a detailed explanation?

You will comprehend this point better when you can easily make a comparison between a simile vs metaphor .

Where Does The Word “Simile” Come From

Simile has roots in the Latin word similis ( which means like, similar ). It is pretty fitting as the comparison highlighted using a simile will primarily have the words like or as.

A simile is the oldest way of accomplishing expression in poetry for the reader. Aristotle used simile at a sensory level in his poetry.

What is a Metaphor?

A metaphor, like a simile, is a “figure of speech.” It is used to describe an action or object in a fashion that is not true. Nonetheless, it helps in understanding a concept or comparison of it.

Some basics of metaphor:

• It equates or compares two things though they are not the same, but does so for the sake of it or symbolism.
• If a metaphor is taken literally, it will mostly sound strange.
• A metaphor emphasizes that a particular thing is also another thing.
• They are used in literature and poetry and when some flair needs to be added to the language.

For example, if someone asks, “how lively is she?” and you answer, “a firecracker,” you have replied with a metaphor.

How are Metaphors Structured?

The fundamental structure for metaphors is that A is B. If we borrow cognitive/linguistic terminology, A is the metaphor target, with B being the source.

The metaphor structure has four elements:

• Vehicle – The keyword which carries the meaning of a metaphor. In the example above, the answer is “a firecracker” the words “a firecracker” is the vehicle.
• Tenor – What is conveyed – the answer is understood easily.
• Ground – The connection between things that are compared. The replied answer and the firecracker both express the element of liveliness.
• Tension – The difference between two things. The answer is not a firecracker unless you celebrate the 4th of July. In such a case, it will be a pun.

Types of Metaphors

There are primarily four types, and if you know these, you will gauge distinctions in a simile vs metaphor :

• Standard Metaphor – It directly compares the two things or entities as though they are synonyms. The majority of common metaphors come under it. For example, *He is the light of my life*, *It is difficult only on paper*, *America is a melting pot of people*.
• Implied Metaphor – In the case of an implied metaphor, you don’t compare the two things directly but rather imply it with a subtle change in wording. For example, “she howled high notes to finish the concert” is an implied metaphor in this case – it compares her to a wolf. A wolf can never be a musician.
• Visual Metaphor – A visual metaphor draws a connection between two non-identical elements by an image. Visual metaphors are extensively used in advertising, where animation and images evoke associations, feelings, and ideas without revealing the direct meaning. For example, how ice cream ads show melted chocolate to invoke the same pleasure experienced when having an ice cream.
• Dead Metaphor – A dead metaphor is used so often that it has lost its power and meaning of imagination. Some examples are nearing a deadline, fallen in love, and electric current.

Differences between simile vs. metaphor

Metaphors and similes are “figures of speech” leveraged to compare two things that are not alike. The key difference between them is that similes compare by stating that something is “similar to or like” something else.

Metaphors, however, compare by stating something “is” something else.

Examples of a simile

• Life is like a roller coaster ride
• He is as blind as a vampire bat
• The boys are fighting like cats and dogs
• She swims like a fish

Examples of a metaphor

• He is a night owl
• His phone is a dinosaur
• The world is your oyster

Refer to the table below to see simile’s and metaphor’s side-by-side.

Similarities Between Simile and Metaphor

So, now that you have a pretty good clue as to a simile vs. metaphor, you can surmise that they play with words. Essentially, the play is done in a way that both aim for the same goal, i.e., to highlight a description by comparison. You may be surprised that some similes and metaphors can be interchangeable.

For instance, you could say those twins are like a couple peas in a single pod. You could also say they are a couple of peas in a single pod. You can see that the message conveyed is identical in both these sentences, yet one is a metaphor, and the other is a simile.

Examples of similes in literature

In comparing simile vs metaphor from any famous literary source, you will discover at least a few examples that aid in understanding these figures of speech. The vaults of English Literature have millions of examples of both figures of speech in poetry or prose.

From the Romantic poets like William Wordsworth to the more recent literature of Ernest Hemingway, you can find numerous examples of similes in all literary works worth their salt.

Here are some key examples that aid you in a comparison of simile vs metaphor, as seen in English Literature:

• From The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway – “The café was like a battleship stripped for action.”
• From Daffodils by William Wordsworth – “I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills.”
• From The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – “Time has not stood still. It has washed over me , as if I’m nothing more than a woman of sand…”

Examples of metaphors in literature

Here are some famous metaphors as they have appeared in literature from the olden days till recent times:

• From As You Like It by William Shakespeare – “All the world’s a stage…”
• From The Lord of the Flies by William Golding – “The sun in the west was a drop of burning gold…”
• From Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck – “Well, you keep away from her, ’cause she’s a rattrap if I’ve ever seen one.”

Difference between simile, metaphor, and personification

Once you know the difference between a simile vs. a metaphor, it will not be challenging for you to know the difference between the two figures of speech and others. An often-used figure of speech in all forms of literature is personification .

The differences between all three figures of speech – simile, metaphor, and personification – lie mainly in their function. Since you have already understood the concepts behind the simile and the metaphor well, you need some awareness about personification.

A personification is a figure of speech that gives a human quality to an inanimate object . The human quality need not be restricted only to non-living objects and things. Human traits may be attributed to animals and ideas as well.

Typically, you can see personifications in all their glory in poetry and fiction. While similes and metaphors make comparisons in different ways, personification attributes a human trait.

Here are some examples of personification:

• The howling wind scared the baby in the crib.
• As the sun smiled, it warmed our faces.
• Time can fly when you are having fun .
• I saw flowers dancing in the cool breeze.

Difference between simile, metaphor, and analogy

You may have come across an analogy in the world of English literature and, by its very name, though of it while comparing a simile vs metaphor.

All three are related quite closely, but they are not the same. Essentially, a metaphor makes the use of one thing to mean quite another thing.

A simile is an actual comparison between things and a new meaning is created. An analogy displays how two things may be similar, displaying shared qualities. Consequently, an analogy is a rational argument of sorts. Note the examples below:

• The work you are engaged in is as essential as rearranging deck chairs on a ship.
• White is to black as off is to on.
• A person works hard to make two ends meet.

Difference between simile, metaphor, and idiom

Idioms are used regularly in speech and writing and form a vital part of any language. The differences between similes, metaphors, and idioms are pretty clear. A metaphor is a comparison that is made indirectly. A simile is also a comparison, but it is made directly.

An idiom is different because it is a phrase, sometimes called an “adage,” and is often used to describe a situation. Proverbs are also called idioms in the most common of ways.

Here are examples of each so that you can tell the differences between a simile vs. metaphor and idioms:

• Idiom – Butterflies in my stomach (meaning I am nervous)
• Metaphor – He is a wild animal, the way he treats people! (comparing a man to a wild animal by saying he is a wild animal)
• Simile – The little boy was as fierce as a lion in how he fought in the judo match. (Using “as” to compare the little boy to a lion)

The Importance of Figures of Speech

Figures of speech, especially similes and metaphors, are crucial in literature. This is because poetry and prose are made more imaginative, making ideas come to life. To make simple writing more expressive, these figures of speech are cleverly used to make literature come alive in the reader’s imagination.

In contrast to idioms, figures of speech can be grasped even if one has never been exposed to them. Once you hear or read about a metaphor, you may see that it sounds and looks more poetic than any simile. Nonetheless, similes can be important in their functions as well.

Figures of speech are vital to make any writing or speech more meaningful for the audience and the writer.

• The History of Simile and Sensory Poems – Pen and the Pad
• What Is a Simile: Definition, Types, and Examples – Skillshare
• Simile vs. Metaphor: Understand The Difference
• Simile vs. Metaphor: What’s the Difference? – Grammarly

Inside this article

Fact checked: Content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. Learn more.

About the author

Dalia Y.: Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain.

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