Practice
Similes exercise 1: understand comparisons in context
Sign in to saveAfter carrying boxes upstairs, Martin says his arms feel like jelly. He does not mean that his arms are food. The comparison tells you that they feel weak and unsteady.
Recognize common English similes, understand the quality they express, and choose a natural comparison for the context.
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
The road was as smooth as glass. /ðə rəʊd wəz əz smuːð əz ɡlɑːs/
The short answer
A simile compares two unlike things, usually with like or as...as. Read the surrounding situation, then identify the shared quality instead of interpreting the words literally.
The pavement was as slippery as ice after the rain.
Why it works: Ice suggests a surface that is difficult to walk on safely.
5 more examples
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After the long walk, my feet felt like blocks of wood.
The comparison suggests that the feet feel stiff and tired.
Not this:After the long walk, my feet
felt sore. What changes: The direct adjective states the feeling without an image. -
The new intern is as busy as a bee this morning.
This familiar simile describes someone who is very active and occupied.
Not this:The new intern
is busythis morning. What changes: The direct version is neutral and less expressive. -
Her explanation was as clear as glass.
Clear glass lets you see through it, so the simile describes an easy-to-understand explanation.
Not this:Her explanation
was clear. What changes: The comparison adds an image to the same basic meaning. -
The toddler followed his father like a shadow.
A shadow stays close to a person, so the phrase means the toddler stayed nearby.
Not this:The toddler
followed his father closely. What changes: Closely gives the literal idea without the comparison. -
During the presentation, I was as nervous as a cat near water.
This is a creative comparison that suggests strong discomfort and caution.
Not this:During the presentation, I
was nervous. What changes: The simple adjective communicates the feeling more directly.
Read the full guide
Start with the context. Ask what quality the speaker needs to describe: speed, silence, nervousness, softness, or another idea. Then check whether the comparison is a familiar English phrase and whether it fits the grammar of the sentence.
Find the shared quality
A simile does not say that two things are identical. It borrows one clear quality from the second thing. When you read a comparison, ask which quality the two things can share in this situation.
The baby slept like a log after the journey.
A log stays still, so the phrase suggests very deep, still sleep.
What quality does as light as a feather usually describe?
It describes something with very little weight.
Use as...as to compare a quality
The pattern as + adjective + as compares a quality. The adjective goes in the middle, and the noun after the second as gives the image. This pattern can describe an object, a place, an experience, or a person.
The suitcase was as heavy as a rock.
Heavy is the quality being compared.
The lake was as still as a mirror at dawn.
Still is the quality, and a mirror supplies the visual image.
Complete the pattern: The instructions were as simple ___ a recipe.
Use as: The instructions were as simple as a recipe.
Use like before a noun phrase
Use like to introduce a noun phrase or pronoun in a comparison. It often follows an action verb or a linking verb. The noun phrase after like gives the picture that helps the listener understand the action or feeling.
The old engine sounded like a washing machine.
The speaker compares the engine's noisy sound with a familiar machine.
When the lights went out, the children ran like the wind.
Wind suggests fast movement, so the comparison means they ran very quickly.
Which is natural: She sings like an angel or She sings like beautiful?
Use She sings like an angel. Like is followed by a noun phrase here.
Use the situation, not the literal words
A familiar simile may seem strange if you take every word literally. Look at the sentence around it. A person who is as white as a sheet may be frightened, shocked, or unwell because their face has lost color.
When the manager asked about the missing file, Leo went as red as a tomato.
The context suggests embarrassment, and red describes the change in his face.
The classroom was as quiet as a mouse during the test.
The test situation tells you that the room had almost no sound.
Does as white as a sheet usually describe a piece of paper?
No. When it describes a person, it usually refers to a very pale face.
Notice tone and register
Similes can make speech warmer, funnier, or more dramatic. They can also sound negative when they label a person. In a formal report, a direct adjective is often clearer. In conversation or storytelling, a well-chosen simile can make the description memorable.
The meeting room was freezing.
This direct adjective is suitable when you simply need to state the temperature.
The meeting room was as cold as a freezer.
The simile adds emphasis and a more conversational image.
Which version is usually safer in a short technical report: direct wording or several colorful similes?
Use direct wording. It is usually easier to read quickly and interpret accurately.
Choose a comparison that fits
For each exercise question, identify the missing quality or image, then read the entire sentence again. A grammatically correct phrase can still be a poor answer if the comparison does not match the context.
The cyclist moved as fast as lightning down the hill.
Lightning is associated with speed, so the image fits the downhill movement.
The cushion was as soft as a cloud.
A cloud is used here as an image of softness and comfort.
What should you check after choosing a simile in an exercise?
Check both the grammar pattern and whether the shared quality fits the sentence.
Before you go
Remember this
Find the quality first, then read the comparison. Use as + adjective + as for a quality and like before a noun phrase. A good simile helps the listener picture the intended idea without making the sentence harder to follow.
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 exercise 1: understand comparisons in context"
What is a simile in English?
A simile compares unlike things to show one shared quality. Her explanation was as clear as glass uses clear glass as an image for an explanation that is easy to understand.
After the long walk, my feet felt like blocks of wood.
What is the difference between like and as...as in a simile?
Use as + adjective + as when you name a quality, as in as busy as a bee. Use like before a noun phrase when you compare an action or state with an image, as in followed his father like a shadow.
After the long walk, my feet felt sore.
Do I have to understand a simile literally?
No. Read the context for the intended quality. When feet feel like blocks of wood after a walk, the comparison suggests stiffness and tiredness, not that the feet have changed into wood.
The new intern is as busy as a bee this morning.
Can I make my own simile in English?
Yes, especially in personal writing or storytelling. Keep the shared quality clear for the reader. The comparison as nervous as a cat near water uses a familiar image of discomfort to explain the speaker's feeling.
The new intern is busy this morning.
Are similes suitable for formal writing?
Use them carefully. A direct description often works better in formal or technical writing. The meeting room was freezing is more neutral, while as cold as a freezer adds a conversational image and extra emphasis.
Her explanation was as clear as glass.