20 Common English Phrases for Describing Things | Common English Similes

Person 1: Hey, what’s wrong? Person 2 : It’s as dead as a doornail.

Person 1: What is? Person 2: My phone, I dropped it in the bath…

Person 1: Why did you have it in the bath? Person 2: I thought I would just give it a

quick wipe while I was having a soak but it slipped through my fingers, and now, it’s

as clean as a whistle but I can turn the stupid thing on.

Person 1: Come on, I know a little trick. You pop it in a bag of rice and in about 12

hours it will be as right as rain.

Hello everyone, Anna here from English Like A Native. Did that conversation make any sense

to you? As you probably already know, the English language is made up of so many strange

phrases and idioms. In the scene you just saw, there were three similes. A ‘simile’

is a phrase which uses the word ‘like’ or ‘as’ to describe something specific

by comparing it to something else. Let’s have a look again.

Before I continue there are notes available for you to download and keep for future reference.

Simply click on the link below, fill in your details to sign up to my mailing list and

I will send them, and any future notes to you.

Now smilies are often used to be humorous or to add more detail or emphasis. You can

easily create your own similes to describe something…

ANNA: Urghh this cheese is as smelly as old pair of socks. Careful with that Nick it’s

lethal. NICK: This? Nah, it’s about as lethal as

a fart in a spacesuit. It hasn’t been sharpened in months.

Making up your own similes is certainly fun…but we do have a lot of commonly used descriptive

similes. These are basically set phrases used by natives regularly.

And not just in English, descriptive similes can be found in lots of languages, for example,

in Spanish you might hear como pan comido which means as easy as pie, or comer como

una lima which means to eat like a horse. And in French, Belle comme le jour means as

pretty as the day or sourd comme un pot means as deaf as a pot.

Knowing these commonly used phrases is important if you hope to achieve a native level of fluency

in your target language. That’s why you should try to have at least one native model

in your language toolbox. At Lingoda, all of their 1400 teachers are

native level, qualified teachers from different countries, who can teach you local expressions,

slang and culture.

If you are unfamiliar with this fabulous online language school then let me give you a little

insight. I have been studying on and off with Lingoda for many years.

They offer live immersive classes in English, Business English, Spanish, French, and German.

Their flexible online learning platform allows you to mould your learning around your needs.

Take me for example, I am a long term, ad-hoc student of Spanish and German. My hectic,

unpredictable lifestyle means that I cannot commit to a regular schedule. So whenever

I find a spare 60 minutes in my schedule I try to slot in a class, and as Lingoda’s

classes are online and offered 24/7 it’s really easy for me. Personally, I prefer group

classes and as the groups have a maximum of 5 students it means they are never overcrowded.

I hope I am able to commit more time to studying in the new year, and move up to the next level,

claim my certificate to put in my record of achievement. If you are keen to do the same

you can choose from a monthly subscription that gives you lots of flexibility or you

can challenge yourself to a Marathon and potentially earn up to 400 euros cashback.

Interested? Why not take it for a test-drive first. Click on the link below and sign up

for a 7-day free trial. Use my link to get up to 40% off your marathon course or first

month of monthly subscription if you decide to continue. (The link automatically applies

your discount code when signing up for the free trial and will be saved for when you

decide to continue with Lingoda)

Now let’s have a look at 20 commonly used descriptive smilies in English.

1. As blind as a bat
We have an adjective sandwich here. The bread is the word ‘as’,

so we have ‘as’ either side of the adjective. Here, the adjective is ‘blind’, meaning

to be visually impaired or unable to see. We would usually put the name of a person

or thing at the beginning of this sentence, followed by our adjective sandwich, followed

by the thing it is being compared to. 
Confusingly, bats are not actually blind: they have very

small eyes which allow them to see in the dark, but this is an idiom that has been around

for hundreds of years in British English, so even though it doesn’t really make sense,

we understand it to mean ‘very blind’. 
“Help, I’m as blind as a bat without

my glasses.” 2. As busy as a bee
Bees are renowned for

being hard-working animals so to say you are ‘as busy as a bee’ means that you are

working very hard at something or doing many things at once. When listening to similes,

the most important word to note is the adjective. As long as you catch and understand the adjective,

it will be much easier to understand the phrase even if it doesn’t make much sense. 
“My

little girl Alison has been as busy as a bee with school, homework, football practice and

learning her lines for the school play. I can barely keep up.”

3. As cold as a fish
This is a funny one which means to be unemotional. 
“I really

thought he cared about me, but when I told him I was moving away, he was as cold as a

fish.” 4. As clean as a whistle
To be ‘as clean

as a whistle’ means to be very clean. It can be used literally to mean something isn’t

dirty or to describe someone or something that is free of incriminating evidence.
“We

had to let him go, we searched him and his bags but he was as clean as a whistle.”

5. As clear as mud
This one is a classic example of sarcasm, which is a key element

in British humour. If something is ‘clear’ then it is transparent, like a window, or

easy to read, like the text on the screen. Mud is thick and dark and not clear at all.

If something is ‘as clear as mud’, that means it is very confusing or difficult to

understand.
“I’ve been studying algebra for two months already but these equations

are as clear as mud.” 6. As cool as a cucumber
To be ‘cool’

in this context means to be calm and relaxed. Cucumbers are typically kept in the fridge

and they are known to be cooling and soothing ingredients. Therefore, to be ‘as cool as

a cucumber’ means to be very calm or relaxed, particularly when this is surprising. 
“Some

idiot has just ran into the back of our car, made a right mess, I am absolutely fuming

but Gareth, well, he’s as cool as a cucumber.” 7. As dead as a doornail
A doornail is completely

lifeless. To be ‘as dead as a doornail’ means to be dead, totally dead. This could

be used literally or in the context of an idea. 
“The flat-earth movement appears

to be as dead as a doornail.” 8. As fit as a fiddle
To say someone or

something is ‘as fit as a fiddle’ means that they are in good condition or health.


“The doctor says I’m as fit as a fiddle and allowed to go back on the pitch.”

9. As fresh as a daisy
This can either mean to be fresh and clean or to be full of energy

and enthusiasm. “Little Leo has been off school with the chicken pox but today he’s

turned up as fresh as a daisy…Leila don’t hit Henrietta with the fire engine…sorry

got to go!” 10. As tough as nails
A nail is a metal

fixture used in building and attaching things to walls. They’re very strong. If something

or someone is ‘as tough as nails’, then they are very strong and determined. Sometimes

you might also hear the phrase ‘as hard as nails’, which means the same thing. 
“Justine

has been through so much this year. She lost her cat, she lost her job, she lost her knock-off

Versace handbag, but she still keeps going with a smile on her face. She’s is as tough

as nails that girl.” 11. As good as gold
This phrase is often

used to describe children who are very well-behaved.
“We had a lovely day on Saturday hanging out with

my parents and Oliver was as good as gold, he loves his grandma.”

12. As mad as a box of frogs
This is a silly one. If someone is ‘as mad as a box of frogs’,

then they are crazy. It can be used as a term of endearment or sometimes as a bit of an

insult. This is another one which doesn’t really make sense but it does paint a clear

picture in your imagination. 
“I love our neighbour - she’s as mad as a box of

frogs and she’s so kind.” 13. As plain as day
If something is ‘as

plain as day’ then it is very clear and easy to see or understand. You might also

hear the phrase ‘as clear as day’, which means the same. 
“She stood there smoking

right outside the hospital door, even though there was a no smoking sign right in front

of her, as plain as day. It’s so disrespectful!” 14. As pleased as Punch
To be ‘as pleased

as Punch’ means to be very pleased or happy. ‘Punch’ is a character in a famous puppet

show called ‘Punch and Judy’. Punch is always seen to be very happy when his evil

plans succeed. 
“If I get the promotion I want then I’ll be as pleased as Punch.”

15. As quiet as a mouse
This one simple means to be very very quiet. 
“I was supposed

to be home over an hour ago. My mother should be asleep by now, so I just need to be as

quiet as a mouse.” 16. As right as rain
We’re very used to

rain in the United Kingdom. If it’s raining, it’s normal. To be ‘as right as rain’

means to feel healthy or well again after being unwell, sad or under pressure. 
“Sorry

I snapped at you earlier, I’m just tired. As soon as I have a good night’s sleep I’ll

be as right as rain.” 17. As sick as a dog
This is another one

of those phrases that doesn’t make much sense but most English speakers will instinctively

understand the meaning. To be ‘as sick as a dog’ means to be very unwell, sick and

vomiting. “Poor Angela. She’s not at work today because she’s ill. She’s as sick

as a dog I was told, though I also heard that it was self-inflicted, out late drinking with

colleagues apparently, knocking back tequila until 3 in the morning. But you didn’t hear

that from me, ok? Yeah there’s a nasty flu going around at the moment.”

18. As easy as ABC 
This phrase is used to emphasise an easy learning process. ‘ABC’

refers to the alphabet. 
“Is this your first time making cupcakes? Oh wonderful,

well don’t be nervous baking is as easy as ABC.”

19. As flat as a pancake
If something is as ‘flat as a pancake’, then it is very

flat and level.
“Compared to other countries with huge mountains and volcanoes, most of

England is as flat as a pancake.” 20. As quick as a wink/flash
This phrase

can be used to describe something which happens very quickly, just like a wink or a flash.
“She

replied to my email as quick as a wink.” And our time together has passed as quick

as a flash. Remember achieving fluency is easier which the motivation and the right

resources. Don’t forget to download your lesson notes and take that free trial with

Lingoda, details in the description.