100+ Comparative Idioms in English

Comparative Idioms in English

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Idiomatic comparisons can enhance your English and make your speech sound more fluent and expressive. Using them in sentences adds color and impact.

Comparative Idioms Meaning and Examples

As brave as a lion

Meaning: Very brave and fearless.
Examples:

• The firefighter was as brave as a lion during the rescue.
• She faced the wild dog without flinching, as brave as a lion.

As busy as a bee

Meaning: Very active and hardworking.
Examples:

• Mom is always as busy as a bee in the kitchen.
• The students were as busy as bees before the exam.

As cool as a cucumber

Meaning: Calm and relaxed under pressure.
Examples:

• He stayed as cool as a cucumber during the interview.
• Even in chaos, she remained as cool as a cucumber.

As cunning as a fox

Meaning: Very clever and tricky.
Examples:

• The detective was as cunning as a fox.
• She got the deal by being as cunning as a fox.

As easy as pie

Meaning: Very easy to do.
Examples:

• Solving that puzzle was as easy as pie.
• Cooking this recipe is as easy as pie.

As fit as a fiddle

Meaning: In excellent health.
Examples:

• Grandpa is 80 but as fit as a fiddle.
• After her workout, she felt as fit as a fiddle.

As free as a bird

Meaning: Totally free, without worries.
Examples:

• On vacation, I felt as free as a bird.
• After quitting his job, he felt as free as a bird.

As good as gold

Meaning: Very well-behaved.
Examples:

• The kids were as good as gold at the party.
• She’s always as good as gold at school.

As light as a feather

Meaning: Extremely light in weight.
Examples:

• The scarf is as light as a feather.
• That kitten is as light as a feather.

As old as the hills

Meaning: Very old.
Examples:

• This story is as old as the hills.
• That castle looks as old as the hills.

As quick as a flash

Meaning: Very fast.
Examples:

• He ran out the door as quick as a flash.
• She solved the question as quick as a flash.

As sharp as a tack

Meaning: Very intelligent.
Examples:

• That student is as sharp as a tack.
• She’s old but still as sharp as a tack.

As slow as molasses

Meaning: Very slow.
Examples:

• The internet today is as slow as molasses.
• He moves as slow as molasses in the morning.

As strong as an ox

Meaning: Very strong.
Examples:

• That weightlifter is as strong as an ox.
• She carried the box as strong as an ox.

As stubborn as a mule

Meaning: Very stubborn.
Examples:

• He’s as stubborn as a mule when he wants something.
• She refused to listen, as stubborn as a mule.

As sweet as honey

Meaning: Very sweet and kind.
Examples:

• The baby is as sweet as honey.
• Her voice is as sweet as honey.

As tough as nails

Meaning: Very strong or determined.
Examples:

• The coach is as tough as nails.
• She may look delicate but is as tough as nails.

As white as a ghost

Meaning: Extremely pale (from fear or shock).
Examples:

• He turned as white as a ghost after the accident.
• She was as white as a ghost from fright.

As wise as an owl

Meaning: Very wise and knowledgeable.
Examples:

• My grandfather is as wise as an owl.
• That professor is as wise as an owl.

As blind as a bat

Meaning: Unable to see well.
Examples:

• Without glasses, I’m as blind as a bat.
• He’s as blind as a bat in the dark.

As glorious as the sun

Meaning: Exceptionally beautiful or bright.
Examples:

• The bride looked as glorious as the sun.
• The view from the hilltop was as glorious as the sun.

As cheerful as a lark

Meaning: Very happy and lively.
Examples:

• She’s always as cheerful as a lark in the morning.
• He woke up as cheerful as a lark.

As cold as ice

Meaning: Very cold or emotionally distant.
Examples:

• Her hands were as cold as ice.
• His stare was as cold as ice.

As white as snow

Meaning: Pure white or very clean.
Examples:

• Her dress was as white as snow.
• The mountain tops were as white as snow.

As gentle as a lamb

Meaning: Very gentle and kind.
Examples:

• Don’t worry, he’s as gentle as a lamb.
• The child was as gentle as a lamb.

As ancient as the sun

Meaning: Extremely old.
Examples:

• The legend is as ancient as the sun.
• That book looks as ancient as the sun.

As free as air

Meaning: Completely free and unrestricted.
Examples:

• After graduation, I felt as free as air.
• He roamed the country as free as air.

As clear as daylight

Meaning: Very obvious or easy to understand.
Examples:

• Her guilt was as clear as daylight.
• The answer is as clear as daylight.

As mute as a fish

Meaning: Silent, not speaking.
Examples:

• He remained as mute as a fish in court.
• When questioned, she was as mute as a fish.

As pretty as a picture

Meaning: Very attractive or beautiful.
Examples:

• The garden looked as pretty as a picture.
• She was as pretty as a picture in that dress.

As fresh as a rose

Meaning: Looking or feeling very fresh and full of life.
Examples:

• She came back from vacation as fresh as a rose.
• After the morning shower, he felt as fresh as a rose.

As silent as a grave

Meaning: Completely silent.
Examples:

• The room was as silent as a grave after the announcement.
• When he entered, the house became as silent as a grave.

As hard as iron

Meaning: Extremely hard or tough.
Examples:

• His will is as hard as iron.
• The ground was frozen and as hard as iron.

As red as blood

Meaning: Very red in color.
Examples:

• Her lips were as red as blood.
• The sunset turned the sky as red as blood.

As merry as a cricket

Meaning: Very cheerful and joyful.
Examples:

• The kids were as merry as crickets at the party.
• He danced around as merry as a cricket.

As vague as shadow

Meaning: Unclear or not easily defined.
Examples:

• His explanation was as vague as a shadow.
• The figure in the fog looked as vague as a shadow.

As soft as butter

Meaning: Very soft or gentle.
Examples:

• Her skin felt as soft as butter.
• The bread was as soft as butter inside.

As bright as silver

Meaning: Shining brightly like silver.
Examples:

• Her necklace sparkled as bright as silver.
• The moonlight was as bright as silver.

As innocent as a child

Meaning: Completely innocent and pure.
Examples:

• He looked as innocent as a child in court.
• Don’t blame her; she’s as innocent as a child.

As loud as thunder

Meaning: Extremely loud.
Examples:

• His laughter was as loud as thunder.
• The crash was as loud as thunder.

As big as an elephant

Meaning: Very large in size.
Examples:

• That suitcase is as big as an elephant!
• His appetite is as big as an elephant’s.

As happy as a lark

Meaning: Very happy and joyful.
Examples:

• She’s been as happy as a lark since she got the job.
• He was as happy as a lark on his birthday.

As beautiful as the rainbow

Meaning: Extremely beautiful.
Examples:

• The garden looked as beautiful as the rainbow.
• Her dress was as beautiful as the rainbow.

As deep as a well

Meaning: Very deep or thoughtful.
Examples:

• His love for her is as deep as a well.
• Her poetry is as deep as a well.

As easy as A B C

Meaning: Very easy or simple.
Examples:

• This math problem is as easy as A B C.
• Learning to ride a bike was as easy as A B C.

As fast as a deer

Meaning: Very fast and quick.
Examples:

• She ran as fast as a deer.
• The boy was gone as fast as a deer.

As black as a crow

Meaning: Very black or dark in color.
Examples:

• Her hair was as black as a crow.
• The sky turned as black as a crow before the storm.

As weak as a kitten

Meaning: Very weak.
Examples:

• After the illness, he felt as weak as a kitten.
• She was as weak as a kitten after fasting.

As bold as a lion

Meaning: Very bold and courageous.
Examples:

• He spoke up as bold as a lion.
• The child stood up to the bully as bold as a lion.

As ignorant as a child

Meaning: Lacking knowledge or awareness.
Examples:

• He’s as ignorant as a child when it comes to technology.
• She asked questions as ignorant as a child.

As quick as lightning

Meaning: Extremely fast.
Examples:

• He snatched the ball as quick as lightning.
• She moved through the crowd as quick as lightning.

As sharp as a knife

Meaning: Very sharp or mentally alert.
Examples:

• That blade is as sharp as a knife.
• His response was as sharp as a knife.

As changeable as the weather

Meaning: Frequently changing.
Examples:

• Her mood is as changeable as the weather.
• His opinions are as changeable as the weather.

As sure as death

Meaning: Absolutely certain.
Examples:

• Trouble will come, as sure as death.
• Taxes are coming, as sure as death.

As brisk as a butterfly

Meaning: Very lively and active.
Examples:

• She moved around the house as brisk as a butterfly.
• He entered the room as brisk as a butterfly.

As tame as a lamb

Meaning: Very gentle and harmless.
Examples:

• That big dog is as tame as a lamb.
• Though he looks tough, he’s as tame as a lamb.

As green as grass

Meaning: Very inexperienced or naive.
Examples:

• He’s just started—still as green as grass.
• She’s as green as grass in this business.

As grave as a judge

Meaning: Very serious.
Examples:

• He sat there as grave as a judge.
• Her face turned as grave as a judge.

As immense as the sea

Meaning: Extremely large.
Examples:

• Their sorrow was as immense as the sea.
• The field stretched as immense as the sea.

As dark as night

Meaning: Very dark.
Examples:

• The room was as dark as night.
• Without the moon, the forest was as dark as night.

As happy as a king

Meaning: Extremely happy and content.
Examples:

• After winning the prize, he felt as happy as a king.
• On his birthday, he looked as happy as a king.

As happy as a child

Meaning: Joyful and carefree like a child.
Examples:

• She was as happy as a child playing in the snow.
• He opened the gift as happy as a child on Christmas.

As bitter as gall

Meaning: Extremely bitter in taste or emotion.
Examples:

• The medicine tasted as bitter as gall.
• Her words were as bitter as gall after the betrayal.

As little as a squirrel

Meaning: Very small or petite.
Examples:

• The girl was as little as a squirrel.
• That puppy is as little as a squirrel.

As greedy as a wolf

Meaning: Extremely greedy or hungry.
Examples:

• He devoured the food as greedy as a wolf.
• They grabbed the snacks as greedy as wolves.

As proud as a peacock

Meaning: Very proud and showy.
Examples:

• He walked into the room as proud as a peacock.
• She showed off her award as proud as a peacock.

As bright as day

Meaning: Very clear or easy to see.
Examples:

• The truth was as bright as day.
• The room was lit up as bright as day.

As ruthless as the sea

Meaning: Extremely cruel or unforgiving.
Examples:

• The dictator was as ruthless as the sea.
• Her ambition was as ruthless as the sea.

As rapid as lightning

Meaning: Very fast.
Examples:

• His reaction was as rapid as lightning.
• She typed as rapid as lightning.

As soft as cotton

Meaning: Extremely soft and smooth.
Examples:

• The blanket felt as soft as cotton.
• Her cheeks were as soft as cotton.

As black as coal

Meaning: Very black or dark in color.
Examples:

• His eyes were as black as coal.
• The cave was as black as coal.

As invisible as the air

Meaning: Unable to be seen.
Examples:

• The spy moved as invisible as the air.
• Germs are as invisible as the air.

As swift as a deer

Meaning: Very fast and agile.
Examples:

• She ran as swift as a deer through the field.
• The athlete moved as swift as a deer.

As tall as a giant

Meaning: Extremely tall.
Examples:

• That basketball player is as tall as a giant.
• The building stood as tall as a giant.

As graceful as a swan

Meaning: Very elegant and smooth in movement.
Examples:

• The dancer moved as graceful as a swan.
• She entered the room as graceful as a swan.

As free as a fly

Meaning: Completely free and unrestricted.
Examples:

• After school ended, he felt as free as a fly.
• She lived alone, as free as a fly.

As hot as fire

Meaning: Extremely hot.
Examples:

• The stove was as hot as fire.
• Her anger was as hot as fire.

As hard as a stone

Meaning: Very hard or unfeeling.
Examples:

• His heart seemed as hard as a stone.
• The floor was as hard as a stone.

As tricky as a monkey

Meaning: Very sly or mischievous.
Examples:

• That kid is as tricky as a monkey.
• The prank was as tricky as a monkey’s plan.

As swift as a hawk

Meaning: Extremely fast and sharp in movement.
Examples:

• The bird swooped as swift as a hawk.
• He caught the ball as swift as a hawk.

As powerful as a lion

Meaning: Very strong and commanding.
Examples:

• His voice was as powerful as a lion’s roar.
• The leader stood as powerful as a lion.

As simple as A B C

Meaning: Very easy or straightforward.
Examples:

• This game is as simple as A B C.
• Cooking this dish is as simple as A B C.

As fierce as a lion

Meaning: Extremely fierce or aggressive.
Examples:

• She argued as fierce as a lion.
• The fighter was as fierce as a lion.

As fair as a rose

Meaning: Beautiful and lovely.
Examples:

• The bride was as fair as a rose.
• Her face looked as fair as a rose.

As hard as flint

Meaning: Very tough or emotionally cold.
Examples:

• His decision was as hard as flint.
• She remained as hard as flint through the ordeal.

As fat as a pig

Meaning: Very fat.
Examples:

• After the feast, I felt as fat as a pig.
• That cat is as fat as a pig.

As transparent as glass

Meaning: Easy to see through or understand.
Examples:

• Her lies were as transparent as glass.
• The water was as transparent as glass.

As hairy as a gorilla

Meaning: Covered with a lot of hair.
Examples:

• His arms were as hairy as a gorilla’s.
• That man is as hairy as a gorilla.

As straight as a candle

Meaning: Perfectly upright or straight.
Examples:

• He stood as straight as a candle.
• The tower was built as straight as a candle.

As fast as mind

Meaning: Incredibly fast, almost instant.
Examples:

• The idea came to him as fast as mind.
• She answered the question as fast as mind.

As red as rose

Meaning: Very red and vibrant in color.
Examples:

• Her cheeks turned as red as rose.
• The flower was as red as rose in full bloom.

As inevitable as death

Meaning: Certain to happen, unavoidable.
Examples:

• Change is as inevitable as death.
• His failure was as inevitable as death due to lack of effort.

As cunning as a monkey

Meaning: Very sly or clever in a mischievous way.
Examples:

• That child is as cunning as a monkey.
• He came up with a plan as cunning as a monkey’s.

As nimble as a deer

Meaning: Very agile and quick in movement.
Examples:

• The dancer moved as nimble as a deer.
• He dodged the ball as nimble as a deer.

As dumb as a statue

Meaning: Completely silent or unresponsive.
Examples:

• He stood there as dumb as a statue.
• She went as dumb as a statue when asked a hard question.

As quick as thought

Meaning: Extremely fast, almost instantaneous.
Examples:

• He reacted as quick as thought.
• The bird flew away as quick as thought.

As round as a ball

Meaning: Perfectly round in shape.
Examples:

• Her belly was as round as a ball.
• The fruit was as round as a ball.

As fast as a hare

Meaning: Very fast.
Examples:

• He ran as fast as a hare across the field.
• The car took off as fast as a hare.

As hoarse as a crow

Meaning: Having a rough or harsh voice.
Examples:

• After shouting, he sounded as hoarse as a crow.
• Her voice was as hoarse as a crow from the cold.

As sweet as sugar

Meaning: Extremely sweet or kind.
Examples:

• The dessert was as sweet as sugar.
• That little girl is as sweet as sugar.

As firm as a rock

Meaning: Very solid or strong.
Examples:

• His belief was as firm as a rock.
• She stood her ground as firm as a rock.

As awful as the thunder

Meaning: Extremely frightening or overwhelming.
Examples:

• The noise was as awful as the thunder.
• His anger was as awful as the thunder.

As fierce as a tiger

Meaning: Extremely aggressive or powerful.
Examples:

• She was as fierce as a tiger in debate.
• The soldier fought as fierce as a tiger.

As playful as a puppy

Meaning: Very lively and playful.
Examples:

• The child was as playful as a puppy.
• He jumped around the room as playful as a puppy.

As bald as an egg

Meaning: Completely bald.
Examples:

• His head was as bald as an egg.
• After shaving, he looked as bald as an egg.

As hungry as a hawk

Meaning: Extremely hungry.
Examples:

• I’m as hungry as a hawk after that hike.
• She devoured her meal as hungry as a hawk.

As innocent as a dove

Meaning: Pure, gentle, and harmless.
Examples:

• She looked as innocent as a dove.
• He pleaded his case as innocent as a dove.

As quiet as a lamb

Meaning: Very quiet and peaceful.
Examples:

• The baby slept as quiet as a lamb.
• He sat there as quiet as a lamb during the lecture.

As sharp as razor

Meaning: Extremely sharp or mentally alert.
Examples:

• Her wit is as sharp as razor.
• This knife is as sharp as razor.

As playful as a kitten

Meaning: Very playful and energetic.
Examples:

• The child was as playful as a kitten in the park.
• She teased him as playful as a kitten.

As innocent as a lamb

Meaning: Very pure and naive.
Examples:

• He looked as innocent as a lamb in court.
• Don’t blame her—she’s as innocent as a lamb.

As black as ink

Meaning: Very dark or black in color.
Examples:

• The night was as black as ink.
• His hair was as black as ink.

As heavy as an elephant

Meaning: Extremely heavy.
Examples:

• That box felt as heavy as an elephant.
• He moved as if he were as heavy as an elephant.

As clear as day

Meaning: Very obvious or easy to understand.
Examples:

• The answer was as clear as day.
• It was as clear as day that she was lying.

List of Comparative Idioms

Comparative Idioms Quiz

What is Idiomatic Comparison?

Idiomatic Comparison is a type of expression in English where two things are compared using familiar or figurative phrases. These comparisons are not meant to be taken literally but are used to create a strong image or feeling. They’re often used to make language more vivid, expressive, or relatable.

As busy as a bee: Very busy and active
Example: She’s as busy as a bee getting everything ready for the wedding.

As light as a feather: Very light in weight
Example: This new phone is as light as a feather!

Learn more:

• Idioms by Category
• Common English Idioms
• Familiar English Idioms

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