Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
performance; operation; attainment; mission; success
preference
achievement
feed
confidence
TOEIC preparation test: Free online word games: Noun Verb Game Answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

Similes


Goto page 1, 2  Next
 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forum | What do you want to talk about?
How romantic is English? | Are you a creative person?
Listening exercises
Message
Author
Similes #1 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 16:16 pm   Similes
 

Similes compare things which are alike in some respect, although they may be different in their general nature. We use similes to attach a certain quality to people or situations. Grandpa is as fit as a fiddle, Joe as cool as a cucumber and my bird as light as a feather. Burnt chips are as black as soot, Bud Light beer as week as water, and a joke can be as old as the hills.

And then there are similes that are usually used to associate people's characteristics with an animal. You can be as calm as a cat, blind as a bat or pissed as a rat (very drunk). And surely M. is as mad as a March hare in a field full of carrots.

What are your favourite similes? And do make any comparisons that are only used in your 'neck of the woods'?
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher
Ralf
Language Coach
Ralf Breheny

Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1485
Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)

Similes #2 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 17:05 pm   Similes
 

Hi Ralf

An expression I'm quite fond of is "finer than frog hair". My fiance (who hailed from Oklahoma) used to use that one all the time -- instead of just saying "wonderful" or "great".
.
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

Are you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!This newsletter tells you all about English! Subscribe to free email English courseEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsLearn all about English adverbs in this amusing story
Similes #3 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 17:16 pm   Similes
 

Now it seems (watching TV interviews of Hollywood folks) that the new buzzword is "amazing".

"How was the sandwich at Monkey Stewart's, Angelina?"

"Oh, like, it was just really amazing!"
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.
Prezbucky
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2527
Location: Nashville, TN (USA)

Similes #4 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 19:08 pm   Similes
 

Yankee wrote:
Hi Ralf

An expression I'm quite fond of is "finer than frog hair". My fiance (who hailed from Oklahoma) used to use that one all the time -- instead of just saying "wonderful" or "great".
.

Or more rebellious than a frog's wanton curls Laughing

So far I've only been familiar with 'it's just a gnats hair from it!'
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher
Ralf
Language Coach
Ralf Breheny

Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1485
Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)

Similes #5 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 19:11 pm   Similes
 

prezbucky wrote:
Now it seems (watching TV interviews of Hollywood folks) that the new buzzword is "amazing".

"How was the sandwich at Monkey Stewart's, Angelina?"

"Oh, like, it was just really amazing!"

But where's the simile? Was it as amazing as angel's beads of perspiration? Idea
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher
Ralf
Language Coach
Ralf Breheny

Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1485
Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)

Similes #6 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 19:18 pm   Similes
 

no, probably more like:

"That sandwich was as amazing as a nuclear detonation as seen from the moon."

hehe
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.
Prezbucky
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2527
Location: Nashville, TN (USA)

Similes #7 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 20:00 pm   Similes
 

It's as easy as falling off a log Wink
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

Similes #8 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 20:11 pm   Similes
 

.
I'm familiar with most of the similes on this list:
http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/36400.html
.
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

Similes #9 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 21:24 pm   Similes
 

.
I've also heard "as phony as a three-dollar bill" -- and I guess that simile is in use pretty much everywhere in the US.

And there are a variety of ways that people finish this sentence:
"That's about as subtle as (a) ___________ ."
(Of course, the usual ending of that sentence is something that is anything but subtle.)
Maybe we could have some fun thinking up endings for that one. Laughing
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

Similes #10 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 21:53 pm   Similes
 

Down here it's "as queer as a three-dollar bill"

no offense intended -- that's just how folks say it here... though I think here they're using "queer" to mean "phony", more or less.
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.
Prezbucky
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2527
Location: Nashville, TN (USA)

Similes #11 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 21:53 pm   Similes
 

Amy wrote:
Maybe we could have some fun thinking up endings for that one.

Here's my go at it:

That's about as subtle as an elephant. Smile

What would be yours?
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

Similes #12 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 21:56 pm   Similes
 

prezbucky wrote:
though I think here they're using "queer" to mean "phony", more or less.


Wow, though when I hear "queer", I start thinking about something else. Hehe Smile
Lost_Soul
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 15 Sep 2006
Posts: 1861
Location: South Park, Colorado, USA

Similes #13 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 21:58 pm   Similes
 

yah, that's why I added the disclaimer
_________________
Billie Jean is not my lover. Hee.
Prezbucky
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2527
Location: Nashville, TN (USA)

Similes #14 (permalink) Wed Jun 11, 2008 22:21 pm   Similes
 

Hi Alex

You could make that even less subtle if it involved a whole herd of elephants. Laughing

This is one of the more "interesting" variations I've heard:
"That's about as subtle as a fart in a flower shop."
Laughing
.
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8265
Location: USA

Similes #15 (permalink) Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:46 am   Similes
 

Yankee wrote:
This is one of the more "interesting" variations I've heard:
"That's about as subtle as a fart in a flower shop."

lol, that's a good one!

I googled as subtle as and found a few interesting ones.

As he tried to make a move on her, he was as subtle as Punch giving the funeral oration for Ghandi.

Laughing
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher
Ralf
Language Coach
Ralf Breheny

Joined: 20 Apr 2006
Posts: 1485
Location: EU (Ireland and Germany)

Display posts from previous:   
How romantic is English? | Are you a creative person?
ESL Forum | What do you want to talk about? Similes All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page 1, 2  Next
Page 1 of 2
Latest topics on English Forums
The "right" way to teach phrasal verbs.In jokes.Native discoveryAre you running out of time?Would you vote for Barack Obama?What do you make of "cloud computing"?What kind of English teacher do you prefer?Nursing associates degree online a good idea?Movie: "Good boys"If we did not have not have subtitles...Criteria for acceptabilityHow to help a 6-year-old girl learn English?Current figures?Great TEACH & TRAVEL Opportunities in Tropical Indonesia!Carla Bruni: Love or ambition?Need some help in my CV. (Grammer, correct english, etc.)subject - english writing skillsFriday the 13thSimiles, page 2Similes

Discover English-test.net
Arouse vs. raise"had'nt" versus "have'nt"Care vs. Mind"Coarse"? What happened to a special topic of mine?During studying?TOEIC test: Vocabulary Words: Noun ListTOEIC test: Word games: Free Online Nouns GameDefine insult, diversification, scan, advice, means, timelinessDefinition of computer, cheer, expect, aim, trade, disease, conscience, defeat, debate, riseFree EFL Quiz Online: Simple Present (4)Pronunciation worksheets: The US International Trade Administration

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail