Practice
Similes exercise 2: choose natural figurative comparisons
Sign in to saveA simile can make a description quicker and more vivid, but it only works when the comparison sounds natural in English.
Recognize common English similes and choose a comparison whose meaning fits the situation.
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 library was as quiet as a mouse. /ðə ˈlaɪbrəri wəz əz ˈkwaɪət əz ə maʊs/
The short answer
Choose a simile by its intended meaning, then check whether English speakers commonly use that comparison.
After the long walk, my feet felt as heavy as lead.
Why it works: Heavy as lead gives a strong picture of tired, weighted feet.
5 more examples
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The baby slept like a log after the journey.
This means the baby slept very deeply.
Not this:The baby
slept like a featherafter the journey. What changes: Feather is linked with lightness, not deep sleep, so the comparison is not a usual English simile. -
The library was as quiet as a mouse before opening time.
This describes a place with almost no sound.
Not this:The library was
as quiet as a beebefore opening time. What changes: Bees are associated with activity and buzzing, so this gives the wrong image for silence. -
By noon, the pavement was as hot as an oven.
The speaker compares strong heat with an oven.
Not this:By noon, the pavement was
as hot as snow. What changes: Snow suggests cold, so it conflicts with the intended meaning. -
When the alarm rang, Leo was as quick as lightning.
Lightning suggests very fast movement.
Not this:When the alarm rang, Leo was
as quick as a turtle. What changes: A turtle usually suggests slow movement, so it reverses the intended meaning. -
Mina felt as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
This humorous simile suggests someone is very worried and alert.
Not this:Mina felt
as nervous as a fish in water. What changes: A fish in water suggests comfort rather than nervousness.
Read the full guide
Do not translate a simile word for word from your first language. First, decide what the speaker wants to show: speed, silence, nervousness, warmth, or something else. Then choose an English comparison that listeners will recognize.
Spot the comparison
Look for like or the pattern as plus an adjective plus as. These words often introduce a simile, but the sentence must compare ideas rather than state a literal fact.
Her hands were as cold as ice.
The hands are not ice. Cold as ice gives a strong image of cold skin.
The new assistant runs like a dream.
The assistant does not dream. The phrase says that it works smoothly.
Which word commonly introduces an action comparison: like or because?
Use like. For example, He eats like a horse compares the way he eats with a familiar image.
Choose the meaning before the words
A familiar comparison carries an idea. Before you choose one, name the quality you want to describe. Are you talking about speed, silence, tiredness, or fear? This prevents a literal but unnatural choice.
After the move, I was as tired as a dog.
The comparison expresses exhaustion. It does not describe the speaker as an animal.
The answer came to her in a flash.
In a flash means very quickly, using the image of a sudden light.
Which quality does as light as a feather usually describe: weight or noise?
It usually describes weight. A feather gives the image of something that is easy to lift.
Use established English pairings
Many similes are fixed pairings. You can understand an invented comparison, but it may sound strange to a listener. Learn the whole phrase, including its usual adjective or verb.
After the night shift, he slept like a log.
Sleep like a log is an established phrase for very deep sleep.
The children were as busy as bees before the party.
Busy as bees links bees with constant activity.
Which established phrase means completely dry: dry as a bone or dry as a cloud?
Use dry as a bone. The phrase is a common fixed comparison in English.
Check tone and situation
Some similes are playful or dramatic. They work well in a story, friendly conversation, or informal description. A report about a safety problem may need a plain adjective instead.
The queue moved as slowly as molasses.
This is a vivid, informal complaint about a slow queue.
The delivery was delayed by forty minutes.
This plain sentence is usually better for a formal update because it states the fact directly.
For a work report, which is clearer: The server was as stubborn as a mule or The server stopped responding?
Use The server stopped responding when you need a clear factual report.
Notice when a simile changes the feeling
A simile can make a description warmer, funnier, or stronger. It can also sound too dramatic if the situation is ordinary. Read the sentence again and decide whether the image helps the listener.
The child was as proud as a peacock after the performance.
The simile makes pride sound visible and a little playful.
I was as pale as a ghost when I heard the news.
The comparison gives a dramatic image of shock or fear.
Does as pale as a ghost describe a cheerful, healthy colour?
No. It usually suggests fear, shock, illness, or a lack of colour.
Before you go
Remember this
A simile makes a comparison with like or as. Start with the meaning you need, then choose an established English phrase. Quiet as a mouse suggests silence. Quick as lightning suggests speed. Sleep like a log suggests deep sleep. Keep a familiar comparison intact when you use it.
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 2: choose natural figurative comparisons"
What is a simile in English?
A simile compares one thing with another to create an image. It often uses like or as, as in The pavement was as hot as an oven, where the comparison makes the heat easy to imagine.
The baby slept like a log after the journey.
What is the difference between like and as in a simile?
Use like before a noun or noun phrase in a comparison, such as The baby slept like a log. Use the pattern as plus adjective plus as for a quality, such as The library was as quiet as a mouse.
The baby slept like a feather after the journey.
Why should I learn a whole English simile?
Many similes are established pairings. A listener expects sleep like a log and busy as a bee. Replacing part of a fixed phrase can make it sound unusual even if the literal comparison is understandable.
The library was as quiet as a mouse before opening time.
Can I use similes in formal writing?
You can, but use them carefully. A simile may make a story engaging, while a work update often needs plain language. The delivery was delayed by forty minutes is clearer than a dramatic comparison in a formal report.
The library was as quiet as a bee before opening time.
How can I choose the right simile?
First decide on the quality you mean. For fast movement, quick as lightning is a familiar choice. For deep sleep, use the established comparison sleep like a log. Then check that the tone fits your sentence.
By noon, the pavement was as hot as an oven.