An as…as simile or an idiomatic simile compares two things having some common characteristics.

A

as active as quicksilver.

as afraid as a grasshopper.

as ageless as the sun.

as agile as a cat.

as agile as a monkey.

as alert as a bird in springtime .

as alert nas a chamois.

as  alike as two peas in a pod.

as alone as Crusoe.

as ambitious as Lady Macbeth.

as ambitious as the devil.

as ancient as the stars.

as angry as a wasp.

as far apart as the poles.

as arid as a desert.

as artificial as clockwork.

as audacious as the day.

as awful as justice.

as  awful as silence.

as awkward as a cow on ice.

B

as bad as an itch.

as bald as a coot.

as bald as an egg.

as bare as winter.

as bare as a stone.

as barren as winter rain.

as bashful as a schoolgirl.

as beautiful as the sunset.

as beautiful as a rainbow.

as bent as a bercow. (John Bercow, very corrupt)

as big as bus.

s big as an elephant.

as big as a whale.

as bitter as gall.

as bitter as hemlock.

as bitter as wormwood.

as black as ebony.

as black as a starless night.

as black as soot.

as black as Erebus. (personification of darkness in Greek mythology)

as black as a sweep.

as black as pitch.

as blind as a mole.

as blind as ignorance.

as blith as May. (casual and cheerful)

as bold as brass.

as boundless as the ocean.

as brainless as a chimpanzee.

as brave as Achilles.( Greatest of all Greek warriors. Hero of Trojan War)

as brave as a lion.

as brief as time.

as brief as a dream.

as bright as a new shilling/ penny.

as bright as a button.

as brilliant as a diamond/ stars/ mirror.

as bright as a new pin.

as brisk as a flea.

as brisk as butterfly.

as brisk as a bailiff. (an official in law court who keeps order)

as brittle as a glass.

as brittle as biscuit.

as broad as Heaven’s expanse.

as brown as a bun.

as brown as a berry.

as brown as hazelnuts.

as buoyant as wings.

as busy as a beaver.

as busy as a bee.

C

as calm as summer sea.

as calm as glass.

as calm as death.

as calm as a millpond.

as candid as mirrors.

as careless as the wind.

as cautious as a fox.

as cautious as a scot.

as cautious as serpents.

as certain as sunrise.

as certain as Christmas.

as changeable as the moon.

as chaste as a lily.

as chaste as Minerva. (Goddess of wisdom)

as cheap as dirt.

as cheap as lies.

as cheeky as a monkey.

as cheeky as a young bantam cock.

as cheerful as the birds.

as cheerful as the sun.

as cheerless as the grave.

as cherry as a sunbeam.

as chill as death.

as chilly as a tomb.

as chubby as a cherub.

as clammy as death.

as clear as a bell.

as clean as a whistle.

as clean as a Dutch oven.

as clean as a new pin.

as clear as crystal.

as clear as daylight.

as clear as mud. (irony)

as clever as paint.

as clumsy as a bear.

as coarse a hemp.

as coarse as fustian.

as cold as a dog’s nose.

as cold as a corpse.

as cold as a frog.

as cold as ice.

as comfortable as coin.

as common as pin.

as common as poverty.

as common as dirt.

as cool as a cucumber.

as complacent as a cat.

as confident as Hercules.

as confident as justice.

as conscientious as a dog.

as consoling as night.

as constant as the sun.

as contagious as a yawn.

as contrary as light and darkness.

as contrary as black and white.

as convincing as multiplication table.

as cool as a cucumber.

as costly as an election.

as cosy as the nest.

as countless ass desert sands .

as countless as stars.

as countless as hairs on the head.

as cowardly as a wild duck.

as crafty as a fox.

as credulous as a child.

as crisp as bank notes.

as crooked as corkscrew.

as cruel as winter.

as cruel as death.

as cruel as Media.

as cunning as a fox.

as cunning as a monkey.

as curious as a fish.

D

as dangerous as machine guns.

as dark as midnight.

as dark as dungeon.

as dead as mutton.

as dead as wood.

as dead as a doornail.

as dead as a dodo.

as deaf as a post.

as deaf as a beetle.

as deaf ass billows.

as deceitful as the devil.

as deceptive as the mirage.

as deep as despair.

as deep as hell.

 as deep as the sea.

as dejected as a wet hen.

as delicious as a dream.

as delicious as the forbidden fruit.

as desolate as a tomb.

as devoted as a dog.

as difficult as a Greek puzzle.

as different as chalk from cheese.

as dirty as a hog.

as disappointing as wet gunpowder.

as dismal as a hearse.

as distant as the horizon.

as dizzy as a goose.

as docile as a lamb.

as dreadful as a gathering storm.

as dreary as an empty house.

as drunk as a top.

as drunk as a beggar.

as dry as a bone.

as dry as dust.

as dull as dishwasher.

as dumb as an oyster.

E

as eager as a bridegroom.

as easy as A.B.C.

as easy as an apple-pie.

as easy as a lie.

as elastic as a caterpillar.

as eloquent as Cicero.

as elusive as quicksilver.

as empty as space.

as empty as an idiots mind.

as enticing as a riddle.

as essential as the dew.

as expensive as glory

F

as fabulous as Alladin’s ring.

as faint as the hum of distant bees.

as fair as truth.

as fair as the morn.

as faithful as a dog.

as faithful as the sun.

as faithless as fair weather.

as false as dice.

as familiar as oath.

as  familiar as a popular song.

as far as the poles asunder.

as fast as light.

as fast as a storm.

as fast as an eagle.

as fat as a pig.

as fickle as the weather.

as fickle as the sea.

as fidgety as an old maid.

as fierce as wolves.

as firm as faith.

as firm as steel.

as firm as rocky mountains.

as fit as a fiddle.

as fixed as fate.

as flabby as a sponge.

as flat as a pancake.

as fleet as the wind.

as fleet as a greyhound.

as filmsy as gauze.

as foolish as a calf.

as foul as a sty.

as frail as a glass.

as frail as a lilly.

as free as breeze.

as free as a bird.

as free as thought.

as fresh as dew.

as fresh as a rose.

as fresh as a daisy.

as fresh as the sea breeze.

as friendless as the alarmclock.

as friendly as a puppy.

as fridge as an iceberg.

as frightened as Macbeth before Banquo’s ghost.

as frisky as colts.

as frizzled as a lawyer’s wig.

as fruitful as Egypt.

G

a garrulous as a magpie.

as garrulous as an old maid.

as gaudy as a butterfly.

as gay as the spring.

as gay as larks.

as generous as a lord.

as generous as a dream.

as genial as sunshine.

as gentle as a fawn.

as gentle as a lamb.

as gentle as a snowflake.

as glad as a fly.

as glib as glass.

as glossy as the finest silk.

as gloomy as night.

as glorious as the sun.

as glum as an oyster.

as glum as mud.

as gluttonous as curiosity.

as good as gold .

as good as play.

as gorgeous as heavens.

as good as gold.

as glum as an oyster.

as graceful as a swan.

as gracious as the morn.

as grand as victory.

as grand as a Greek statue.

as grave as a judge.

as grey as time.

as grey as smoke.

as great as a lord.

as greedy as a hog.

as green as grass.

as green as a leaf.

as grim as death.

as grim as hell.

as haggard as a witch.

as haggard as spectres.

as hairless as an egg.

H

as happy as a lark.

as happy as a child.

as hard as granite.

as hard as nails.

as harmless as a babe.

as harsh as truth.

as hasty as fire.

as hateful as hell.

as haughty as the devil.

as healthy as a May morning.

as hearty as an oak.

as heavy as lead.

as helpless as a baby.

as hideous as the witch of Endor.(a female sorcerer who was consulted by King Saul of Israel)

as high as heaven.

as high as the stars.

as hoarse as a raven.

as hollow as a drum.

aS honest as a mirror.

as hopeful as the break of the day.

as horny as a camel’s knee.

as horrid as a murderer’s dream.

as hot as hell.

as hot as pepper.

as hot as fire.

as hot as molten lead.

as hueless as a ghost.

as huge as Olympus.

as humble as a worm.

as hungry as a wolf.

as hungry as a church mouse.

as hungry as a bear.

as hushed as midnight.

I

as ignorant as a child.

as illimitable as the ocean.

as illusive as a dream.

as immaculate as an angle.

as immense as the sea.

as immortal as the stars.

as impatient as a lover.

as imperishable as eternity.

as impetuous as a poet.

as inconstant as the moon.

as inconstant as the waves.

as indolent as an old bachelor.

as industrious as an ant.

as inevitable as death.

as inexhaustible as the sea.

as inexorable as the grave.

as inflexible as granite.

as innocent as a lamb.

as innocent as a baby.

as invisible as the air.

J

as jealous as a cat.

as jealous as a Spaniard.

as jolly as a shoe brush.

as joyful as a fly.

as joyous as the laughter of a child.

as jubilant as old sleigh bells.

K

as keen as a razor.

as keen as hunger.

as keen as mustard.

as killing as a plague.

as kind as consent.

as knowing as the stars.

L

as languid as a love-sick maid.

as large as life.

as  lasting as the pyramids.

as lawful as eating.

as lawless as a stormy wind.

as lax as cut string.

as lazy as a toad.

as lazy as a lobster.

as lean as a skeleton.

as lean as a lath.

as level as a pond.

as liberal as the sun.

as lifeless as the grave.

aS light as down.

as light as feather.

as light as air.

as light as a cork.

as lithe as a panther.

as lithe as a tiger.

as little as Tom Thumb.(legendary English dwarf, the size of a thumb)

as little as a squirrel.

as lively as a cricket.

as loathsome as a toad.

as lonely as a deserted ship.

as lonely as a leper.

as loquacious as Polonious. (talkative courtier and father of Ophelia in Hamlet)

as loud as thunder.

as loud as a horn.

as lovely as Venus.

as lovely as a violet.

as low as the grave.

as lowly as a slave.

as loyal as a dove.

M

as mad as a hatter.

as mad as a hornet.

as mad as March hare.

as magnanimous as Agamemnon. (leader of Greeks in Trojan War)

as malicious as Satan. (Lucifer or Devil who revolted against God)

as mean as a miser.

as meek as a dove.

as meek as a mouse.

as merciless as Othello.

as merciless as a grave.

as merciless as ambition.

as merry as a lark.

as merry as spring.

as  mild as dove.

as mild as moonlight.

as mischievous as a monkey .

as mischievous as a kitten.

as mobile as humanity.

as modest as a primrose.

as modest as a dove.

as monotonous as the sea.

as motionless as a corpse.

as mournful as a grave.

as muddy as sheepdogs.

as mum as an oyster.

as mute as a tomb.

as mute as the grave.

as mysterious as the sphinx.

as mysterious as an echo.

N

as naked as the night.

as naked as a peeled apple.

as natural as life.

as nearsighted as a mole.

as neat as a nail.

as neat as ninepins.

as needful as the sun.

as nervous as a mouse.

as new as day.

as nice as ninepence.

as nimble as a lizard.

as nimble as quicksilver.

as noiseless as a shadow.

as noisy as a menagerie.

as numerous as the sands on the shore.

as nutty as a fruitcake.

O

as obedient as a puppet.          

as obnoxious as an alligator.

as obstinate as a mule.

as obstinate as a pig.

as old as creation.

as old as Methuselah.

as old as Trilobites.

as opaque as the sky.

as open as a smile.

as opposite as the poles.

as old as the hills.

P

As pale as Banquo’s ghost.

as pale as death.

as passionate as young love.

as patient as the hours.

as peaceful as sleep.

as persistent as a mosquito.

as piercing as light.

as placid as a duck-pond.

as plain as pikestaff.

as plain as day.

as playful as a rabbit.

as playful as kittens.

as pleasant as health.

as pleased as punch.

as plentiful as blackberries.

as poor as a church mouse.

as poor as dirt.

as populous as an anthill.

as positive as a Scotsman.

as powerful as deah.

as powerful as a lion.

as powerless as an infant.

as pretty as a picture.

as  pretty as paint.

as progressive as time.

as proud as a peacock.

as proud as Lucifer.

as punctual as springtime.

as pure as a lily.

as pure as winter snow.

as pure as faith.

as pure as the driven snow.

Q

as  quick as a wink.

as quick as lightning.

as quick as silver.

as quick as a flash.

as quick as thought.

as quiet as a church mouse.

as quiet as a lamb.

R

as ragged as Lazarus.

as rapid as lightning.

as rare as blue rose.

as rare as a comet.

as ravenous as a winter wolf.

as real as the stars.

as rebellious as the sea.

as red ass cherry.

as red as a rose.

as red as blood.

as red as poppy.

as regal as Juno.

as regular as sunrise.

as relentless as fate.

as remote as a dream.

as resistless as the wind.

as restless as ambition.

as restless as the sea.

as rich as Creole.

as rosy as a bride.

as rosy as the morn.

as rotten as dirt.

as rough as hemp.

as rough as a storm.

as round as O.

as rude as a bear.

as rugged as a rhinoceros.

as ruthless as the sea.

S

as sacred as a shrine.

as sad as night.

as sad as doom.

as safe as bank.

as safe as a tortoise in a shell.

as salty as a sea sponge.

as salty as brine.

as saucy as the wave.

as scarce as hen’s teeth.

as scarce as feathers on a fish.

as secret as thought.

as secure as the grave.

as seedy as raspberry,

as selfish as a fox.

as senseless as stones.

as sensitive as a flower.

as serious as a doctor.

as serious as an owl.

as shallow as a pan.

as shameful as a sin.

as shapeless as an old shoe.

as sharp as a razor.

as sharp as thistle.

as short as a dream.

as short as the life of a wave.

as shy as a squirrel.

as shy as a fawn.

as sick as a dog

as sick as a parrot.

as silent as thought.

as silent as stone.

as silent as the dead.

as silent as the grave.

as silly as calves.

as  simple as A.B.C.

as simple as a child.

as sincere as sunlight.

as sleek as a mouse.

as sleepless as owls.

as slippery as an eel.

as slippery as ice.

as slippery as serpent.

as slow as a snail.

as slow as a tortoise.

as sly as a fox.

as small ass atoms.

as smart as sixpence.

as smart as paint.

as smooth as ice.

as smooth as silk.

as snug as a bug in a rug.

as sober as a judge.

as soft as velvet.

as soft as wool.

as soft as fur.

as soft as silk.

as solid as bricks.

as solid as a rock.

as solid as the ground.

as solitary as a tomb.

as soothing as the breath of spring.

as sound as the bell.

as sour as vinegar.

as sour as lemon.

as spacious as element.

as speechless as stone.

as spineless as jelly – fish.

as spiteful as a monkey.

as spotless as snow.

as spotless as lilies.

as spruce as an onion.

as stale as old beer.

as stately as an oak.

as stately as a queen.

as steadfast as the sun.

as steady as rock.

as stealthy as a cat.

as stiff as a board.

as stiff as a stone .

as stiff as a ramrod.

as still as a statue.

as still as a log.

as stinky as a carrion. (decaying dead flesh)

as stinky as a pole cat.

as stinky as a skunk.

as straight as a candle.

as  straight as a lance.

as straight as an arrow

as strange as a vision.

as strong as brandy.

as strong as Hercules.

as strong as steel.

as strong as an ox.

as stubborn as a mule.

as stupid as a sloth.

as stupid as a post.

as sturdy as an oak.

as subtle as a serpent.

as sudden as a snap.

as sudden as lightning.

as sulky as a bear.

as sure as death.

as sure as death.

as sure as sunrise.

as superfluous as a fifth wheel.

as superstitious as sailors.

as supple as a snake.

as suspicious as a cat.

as sweet as a rose.

as sweet as sugar.

as swift as an arrow.

as swift as lightning.

as swift as an arrow.

as swift as thought.

T

as talkative as a magpie.

as tall as steeple.

as tame as sheep.

as tall as a steeple.

as tall as a giraffe.

as tame as a sheep.

as taught as fiddle string.

as tedious as a guilty conscience.

as tender as a bud.

as tender as a lamb.

as tender as tears.

as terrible as Jove. (God of thunder)

as terrible as hell.

as thick as ants.

as thick as thieves.

as thick as hail.

as thin as wafer.

as thin as a groat.

as thin as a lath.

 as thirsty as a sponge.

as thirsty as Tantalus. (Greek mythological figure famous for his punishment)

as thoughtless as a lark.

as tidy as a candy soap.

as tight as a drum head.

as tight as teeth.

as timid as a mouse.

as thin as a rake.

as timid as a rabbit.

as tough as leather.

as timid as a fawn.

as tired as tombstones.

as tough as leather.

as tough as nails.

as tough as old boots.

as trackless as the sea.

as trackless as the desert.

as tranquil as the summer sea.

as transient as lightning.

as transparent as glass.

as treacherous as memory.

as tricky as an ape.

as trivial as a parrot’s prate.

as troublesome as a monkey.

as true as the gospel..

as true as steel.

as  truthful as a knight of old.

as tuneless as a bag of wool..

S

as ugly as a scarecrow.

as ugly as sin.

as ugly as a bear.

 as unapproachable as a star.

as unattractive as a gargoyle. ( a grotesque creature)

as uncertain as the weather.

as unchangeable as the past.

as unclean as sin.

as uncomplaining  as a lamb.

as uncompromising as justice.

as unconquerable as chewing gum.

as uncontrollable as the wave.

as unfeeling as rocks.

as unhappy as King Lear.

as universal as seasickness.

as  universal as light.

as unmerciful as the billows. (a large wave)

as unprofitable as smoke..

as unreal as dream.

as unstable as the wind.

as unsteady as the ocean.

as unusual as a sailor on horseback.

as upright as a tower.

as useful as a cow.

V

as vague as a shadow.

as vague as futurity.

as vain as a peacock.

as various as weather.

as violent as steam.

as virtuous a holy truth.

as  voracious as a camel.

as vulgar as money.

W

as wan as moonlight.

as warlike a wolf.

as warm as sunbeams.

as warm as wool.

 as wary as a fox.

as wasteful as a hen.

 as watchful as a sentinel. (a soldier or guard)

as wavering as Hamlet.

as weak as water.

as weak as reed.

as weather-beaten as a fisherman’s oar.

as welcome as dew on parched flowers.

as welcome as rain in hell.

as welcome as a star.

as welcome as a skunk.(irony. i.e. an unwelcome, unpleasant person)

as wet as a drowned cat.

as wet as a fish.

as white as fleece.

as white as ivory.

as white as a lily.

as white as porcelain.

as white as a ghost.

as white as snow.

as white as sheet.

as wise as Solomon.

as wise as an owl.

as witless as a jackdaw.

Y

as yellow as saffron.

as yellow as jaundice.

as yellow as sulphur.

as young as morn.

as young as dawn.

as youthful as the month of May.

Z

as zigzag as lightning.

_______________________________________________________

A RHYME OF COMMON COMPARISONS – SIMILES

As tame as a cat.

As blind as a bat.

As cunning as a fox.

As patient as an ox.

As greedy as a dog.

As cold as a frog.

As tricky as a monkey.

As stupid as a donkey.

As timid as a hare.

As free as the air.

As proud as a peacock.

As firm as a rock.

As hoarse as a crow.

As white as snow.

As blind as a mole.

As black as a coal.

As quiet as mice.

As cold as ice.

As hungry as a hunter.

As soft as butter.

As weak as a baby.

As red as a cherry.

As true as steel.

As slippery as an eel.

As ugly as a toad.

As flat as a board.

As deep as a well.

As sound as a bell.

As stiff as a post .

As pale as a ghost.

As hard a a marble.

As round as an apple.

As cold as stone .

As dry as a bone.

As light as feather.

As tough as leather.

As green as grass.

As bold as brass.

As quick as lightning.

As happy as a king.

 Sources: ‘New Madhyamik Grammar and Composition.’/  Wren and Martin / The Students’ Companion.