A simile is a figure of speech that says that one thing is like another different thing. We can use similes to make descriptions more emphatic or vivid. We often use the words as...as and like with similes.

Common patterns for similes, with example sentences, are:

• something [is*] AS adjective AS something
1. His skin was as cold as ice.
2. It felt as hard as rock.
3. She looked as gentle as a lamb.

[is] AS __?__ AS ___?___	Meaning
as cold as ice	very cold
as light as a feather	very light
as sharp as a knife	very sharp
as white as snow	pure white
as gentle as a lamb	very gentle

• something [is*] LIKE something
1. My love is like a red, red rose.
2. These cookies taste like garbage.
3. He had a temper (that was) like a volcano.

[is] LIKE __?__	Possible Meaning (depending on the context)
like a rose	beautiful
like a volcano	explosive
like a garbage	disgusting
like a dream	wonderful or incredible
like stars	bright and beautiful
like an animal	inhuman

• something [does**] LIKE something
1. He eats like a pig.
2. He smokes like a chimney.
3. They fought like cats and dogs.

[does] LIKE __?__	Meaning
to drink like a fish	to drink a lot
to eat like a bird	to eat very little
to eat like a horse	to eat a lot
to sing like an angel	to sing beautifully
to sleep like a log	to sleep well and soundly
to fight like cats and dogs	to fight fiercely

REMEMBER:
* stative verb: be, feel, smell, taste, etc.
** action verb