Practice
Similes: comparisons with like and as
Do you want a vivid description? Try as cold as ice.
A simile is a picture you build with words by comparing two things with like or as. You can pick the right pattern to describe feelings, people, and actions clearly.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
as light as a feather uhz-LYT-uhz-uh-FETH-er
The short answer
A simile compares two things using like or as. You can place an adjective between two as words, or put like before the thing used for comparison.
My hands are as cold as ice after walking in the snow.
Why it works: Use two as words around cold to describe how freezing your hands feel.
4 more examples
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Before a job interview
She was as cool as a cucumber before her big interview.
Keep the adjective between both as words to show complete calm.
Not this:She was
as cool likea cucumber before her big interview. What changes: This mixes two comparison patterns in one phrase. -
Talking about deep sleep
The baby was tired and slept like a log all night.
Put like directly after the action verb to paint the picture.
Not this:The baby was tired and
slept as a logall night. What changes: The comparison breaks because as alone sounds like a real job instead of a picture. -
Carrying a lightweight bag
This new travel bag is as light as a feather.
Pair light with a feather for a familiar, natural description.
Not this:This new travel bag is
light as a stone. What changes: The image confuses people because stones are heavy, not light. -
Running fast for a train
He ran like the wind to catch the morning train.
Use ran like the wind when you want to describe speed.
Not this:He
ran as the windto catch the morning train. What changes: The phrase sounds incomplete because action comparisons take like.
Quick check
Which sentence uses a correct simile to describe a quiet person?
Answer: She was as quiet as a mouse during the meeting.
Show the answer
Answer: She was as quiet as a mouse during the meeting.
We use as with an adjective to show a shared quality.
Read the full guide
You want to tell a friend about your long day at work. You could say you're tired, or you could say you're as busy as a bee. A good comparison gives your listener a clear visual picture right away.
Building similes with like and as
The problem: I mix up when to use as...as and when to use like in a comparison.
English gives you two clear ways to paint a word picture. Use as around an adjective, or like before the comparison.
| Pattern and phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| as busy as a bee | working very hard | She's as busy as a bee before the launch. |
| as cold as ice | extremely cold | The water felt as cold as ice. |
| as light as a feather | very light to lift | This empty box is as light as a feather. |
| as quiet as a mouse | making almost no sound | He stayed as quiet as a mouse in class. |
| as blind as a bat | unable to see well | Without my glasses I'm as blind as a bat. |
| as clear as crystal | very easy to understand | Her explanation was as clear as crystal. |
| as cool as a cucumber | very calm under pressure | He stayed as cool as a cucumber during the test. |
| as brave as a lion | showing great courage | The young firefighter was as brave as a lion. |
| sleep like a baby | sleep deeply and peacefully | After the hike I slept like a baby. |
| eat like a bird | eat very small amounts | She eats like a bird when she's nervous. |
| run like the wind | run very fast | The dog ran like the wind across the park. |
| fit like a glove | fit in size perfectly | The tailored suit fits like a glove. |
Your turn
Choose the correct phrase to complete the description of a cold winter morning.
Answer: as cold as ice
Show the answer
Answer: as cold as ice
We use as before and after cold to describe a quality.
Hearing as in natural speech
The problem: The word as can sound weak in quick speech, so I miss it.
In quick speech, the small word as often sounds like uhz. Your ear can follow the whole pattern even when each as is quiet.
Each word looks separate in print.
as quiet as a mouse
The sounds join into one smooth piece of speech.
uhz-KWY-uht-uhz-uh-MOWS
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She's as busy as a bee today.
Why it works: The first as links into busy so it sounds like one continuous beat.
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It's as clear as day to everyone.
Why it works: The ending z sound glides into clear without any gap.
Your turn
Which word may sound like "uhz" in quick speech?
Answer: as
Show the answer
Answer: as
The unstressed word as may have a weak "uhz" sound.
Real roles compared to word pictures
The problem: I said he works like a doctor to describe his job and people thought he was pretending.
Ask whether the person truly has that role. Use as for a real job and like for a word picture. If you say someone works like a doctor, you only compare their actions.
-
Not this:
David works like a teacher at our school.Say: David works as a teacher at our school.
Use as for a real profession. Saying like means he acts like one without being one.
States a person's true title or employment role.
She works as a nurse in the city clinic.
Compares someone's effort to another thing.
She works like a machine during busy shifts.
Your turn
Choose the correct phrase to state someone's actual employment.
Maria just graduated and now she ___ at the local hospital.
Answer: works as a nurse
Show the answer
Answer: works as a nurse
Use works as a to name someone's real profession.
Natural word pairs for vivid pictures
The problem: I put it with the wrong verb and nobody says it that way.
Some similes use word pairs that many people know. Keeping the usual pair makes your meaning easy to grasp. A changed image may need more thought.
-
Not this:
I woke up feeling as fresh as a flower.Say: I woke up feeling as fresh as a daisy.
English pairs fresh with daisy in this classic everyday expression.
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After a good night of rest, I felt as fresh as a daisy.
Why it works: Pair fresh with daisy to describe feeling full of energy.
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He put his head down and slept like a log.
Why it works: Use sleep like a log for heavy, uninterrupted rest.
Your turn
Put the chunks to form a natural comparison about deep sleep.
Answer: After the long trip, I slept like a log all night.
Show the answer
Answer: After the long trip, I slept like a log all night.
The set phrase slept like a log follows the subject I.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Which comparison best describes someone who is completely relaxed and unaffected by stress?
Even when the server crashed right before the presentation, Elena stayed ___.
Answer: as cool as a cucumber
Show the answer
Answer: as cool as a cucumber
As cool as a cucumber describes someone who remains calm.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
You tell your roommate how you slept after yesterday's exhausting shift. Which phrase completes the sentence?
Discussing last night after a tiring shift
My feet were sore and my eyes were heavy, so I ___ last night.
Answer: slept like a log
Show the answer
Answer: slept like a log
We use slept like a log to describe a deep, heavy sleep in the past.
Remember this
Use as plus a describing word plus as for one clear pattern. You can also build similes with like.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Similes: comparisons with like and as"
What is a simile?
A simile compares one thing with another by using like or as. It helps a reader picture a quality, feeling, or action more clearly.
The lake was as smooth as glass.
The child ran like the wind.
How do I form a simile with as?
Put an adjective between two instances of as, then add the noun used for comparison. The usual pattern is as plus adjective plus as plus noun.
The parcel is as light as a feather.
The room was as quiet as a mouse.
When does a simile use like?
Use like after a verb when you compare the way someone or something acts. The comparison follows the action instead of an adjective.
She sings like a bird.
The car moved like a snail.
What is the difference between as and like before a noun?
As plus a noun can state a real role or function. Like plus a noun says that someone or something resembles that person or thing.
He works as a chef.
He cooks like a chef.
How can I hear as in a spoken simile?
When as is unstressed, it can use a weak vowel and sound like "uhz." Listen for the adjective and comparison noun to follow the pattern.
The bag felt as light as air.
The night was as dark as coal.