English idioms relating to comparisons-similitude.


as blind as a bat	Someone whose vision is very poor, or who is unable to see anything, is (as) blind as a bat. "Without his glasses the old man is as blind as a bat."
as broad as it's long as broad as it's long	This expression means that it makes no real difference which alternative is chosen. "Take the high-speed train, or fly and take a taxi? It's as broad as it's long."
as different as chalk and cheese	Two people who are as different as chalk and cheese are completely different from each other.
as dull as ditchwater	To refer to something as being as dull as ditchwater means that it is very boring. "The film was a dull at ditchwater. I nearly fell asleep."
as fresh as a daisy	Someone who is as fresh as a daisy is lively and attractive, in a clean and fresh way. "I met Molly the other day. She looked as fresh as a daisy!"
as good as gold	A child who is as good as gold is obedient and well-behaved. "Your children are always as good as gold when I look after them."
as happy as a flea in a doghouse	If someone is as happy as a flea in a doghouse, they are very happy and contented. "Since she moved to a smaller apartment, my mother is (as) happy as a flea in a doghouse."
as happy as Larry	If you are as happy as Larry, you are very happy indeed. "My dad's as happy as Larry at the week-end when we all arrive home.
as mad as a hatter	To say that someone is as mad as a hatter means that they are very strange or insane. "The old lady next door is as mad as a hatter. She says the strangest things!
as much use as a handbrake on a canoe	This expression refers to something which is completely useless or serves no purpose. "With no electricity, a refrigerator would be as much use as a handbrake on a canoe. "
as proud as a peacock	A person who is as proud as a peacock is extremely proud. "When his son won first prize, Bill was as proud as a peacock."
as quick as a dog can lick a dish	If you do something surprisingly fast, or suddenly, you do it as quick as a dog can lick a dish. "He packed his bag as quick as a dog can lick a dish."

as stubborn as a mule	If someone is as stubborn as a mule, they are very obstinate and unwilling to listen to reason or change their mind. "His friends advised him to accept the offer, but you know Jack - he's as stubborn as a mule!"
(as) ugly as sin	This expression is used to refer to people or things that are considered to be very unattractive. "Have you seen the new neighbour's dog? It's as ugly as sin!"
as useful as a chocolate teapot	Something which is of no practical use at all is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. "When there are no roads, a car is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
like the back of one's hand	If you know something like the back of your hand, you are very familiar with it and know it in detail. "Of course I won't get lost. I know London like the back of my hand!"
like a bat out of hell	If something moves like a bat out of hell, it moves very quickly. "He grabbed the envelope and ran like a bat out of hell."
like a bear with a sore head	If someone is behaving like a bear with a sore head, they are very irritable and bad-tempered. "When his team lost the match, Brad was like a bear with a sore head."
like bringing a knife to a gunfight	To say that an action was like bringing a knife to a gunfight means that there was a total lack of preparation. "Asking an inexperienced lawyer to defend such a difficult case was like bringing a knife to a gunfight.
like the cat that ate the canary	If, after an achievement or success, a person appears very self-satisfied or pleased with themselves, you can say that they look like the cat that ate the canary. "When the boss complimented him on his work, Steve looked like the cat that ate the canary."
like a cat on hot bricks	A person who is like a cat on hot bricks is very nervous or restless. "The week before the results were published, she was like a cat on hot bricks."
like a scalded cat	If someone or something moves like a scalded cat, they move very fast, usually because they are frightened or shocked. "As soon as he saw the policeman, he ran off like a scalded cat."
like cat and dog	Two people who fight or argue like cat and dog frequently have violent arguments, even though they are fond of each other. "They fight like cat and dog but they're still together after 30 years."


like clockwork	To say that someone or something goes, runs or behaves like clockwork means that everything happens exactly as expected. "Meals are always served on time. In their home everything runs like clockwork.
like death warmed up	If you look like death warmed up, you look very ill or tired. "My boss told me to go home. He said I looked like death warmed up.
like herding cats	This expression refers to the difficulty of coordinating a situation which involves people who all want to act independently. "Organizing an outing for a group of people from different countries is like herding cats.
like kicking dead whales down the beach.	Expression used (especially in computing) to refer to a particularly slow and difficult process. "Getting him to adopt the new method is like kicking dead whales down the beach."
out like a light	If a person goes out like a light, they are so tired that they fall asleep very quickly. "As soon as his head touched the pillow, he was out like a light."
like a million dollars	If you look/feel like a million dollars, you look/feel extremely good. "With a tan and a new hairstyle, she looked like a million dollars.
like a moth to a flame	To say that a person is attracted to someone or something like a moth to a flame means that the attraction is so strong they cannot resist. "He's drawn to the casino like a moth to a flame.
like nailing jelly to the wall	To say that something is like nailing jelly to the wall, you mean that it is extremely difficult to do, if not impossible. "Keeping track of his movements is like nailing jelly to the wall.
like a red flag/rag to a bull	To say that a statement or action is like a red flag to a bull means that it is sure to make someone very angry or upset. "Don't mention Tom's promotion to Mike. It would be like a red flag to a bull!
a brain like a sieve	Someone who has a brain like a sieve has a very bad memory and forgets things easily. "Oh, I forgot to buy bread - I've got a brain like a sieve these days!"
like something the cat dragged in	If you compare a person or thing to something the cat dragged in, you think they look dirty, untidy or generally unappealing. "My teenage son often looks like something the cat dragged in."
like a sore thumb	If something sticks out like a sore thumb, it is very obvious or visible in an unpleasant way. "The modern building sticks out like a sore thumb among the old houses."
like taking candy from a baby	To say that something is like taking candy from a baby means that it is very easy to do. "Don't worry - you'll manage. It'll be like taking candy from a baby!"
like taking sand to the beach	Doing something that is unnecessary or of no use at all is said to be like taking sand to the beach. "Bringing a cake to Judy's party is like taking sand to the beach; she always uses a caterer."
like there's no tomorrow. (also: as if there were no tomorrow)	If someone does something like there's no tomorrow, they do it fast and eagerly, and regardless of the future, as if this could be their last opportunity to do it. "I don't understand him; he's spending money like there's no tomorrow."
like a thief in the night	Someone who acts like a thief in the night does something secretly or in an unexpected manner. "He left the company like a thief in the night, without telling his colleagues or saying goodbye."
like a ton of bricks	If somebody comes down on you like a ton of bricks, they criticize you severely because you have done something wrong. "If you don't follow his instructions carefully, he'll come down on you like a ton of bricks!
like turkeys voting for Christmas	This expression is used to say that a particular option is unlikely to be chosen because it would not be in the interest of the people concerned. (In many countries people eat turkey at Christmas.) "Expecting them to accept a decrease in salary would be like turkeys voting for Christmas!
like two peas in a pod	To say that two people are like two peas in a pod means that they are very similar in appearance. "It wasn't difficult to identify the brothers - they were like two peas in a pod!
like water off a duck's back	To say that something, such as criticism or advice, is like water off a duck's back means that it has no effect at all. "He's warned of the dangers of smoking but it's like water off a duck's back."
(like putting) lipstick on a pig	This expression means that trying to 'dress up' something unappealing or ugly, in a vain attempt to make it look better, is like putting lipstick on a pig. "Flowers will not not improve that ugly old bridge; every one agrees that it's lipstick on a pig."

cut from the same cloth	If two people are cut from the same cloth, they are very similar in character or behaviour. "Although the brothers look alike, they are not cut from the same cloth. They each have their own personality."
much of a muchness	This expression means 'very similar' or 'almost alike' "It's difficult to choose between the two hotels - they're much of a muchness really."
not a patch on (something)	If someone or something is not a patch on an other, they are not nearly as good. "His second conference wasn't a patch on the first one.
not in the same league	If something is not in the same league, it is of a much lower standard that something else. "He had a good voice but he wasn't in the same league as Pavarotti "
not up to par	If something is not up to par, it does not meet the required standard. 'He didn't get the job because his English wasn't up to par.
worlds apart	When two people are very different, they are said to be worlds apart. "As regards our political opinions, we're worlds apart."