English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions 

COMPARISONS - SIMILARITY, page 2

Idioms relating to comparisons and similarities
from:  'as free as a bird'   to:  'as proud/pleased as punch'

• as free as a bird
  • If someone is as free as a bird, they are completely free to do as they please.
    "My dad's very happy - he's as free as a bird since he retired."
    
    
• 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 full as a tick
  • If someone is (as) full as a tick, they have eaten or drunk too much.
    "The little boy ate biscuits and drank lemonade until he was as full as a tick."
    
    
• 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 hard as nails
  • A person who is (as) hard as nails is unsentimental and shows no sympathy.
    "Don't expect any sympathy from him. He's as hard as nails."
    
    
• as heavy as lead
  • Something that is as heavy as lead is exceptionally heavy.
    (Lead is a metal that weighs a lot compared to other metals.)
    "What's in this box? It's as heavy as lead!"
    
    
• as hungry as a horse/wolf
  • When someone has not eaten for a long time and wants food, they can say that they are as hungry as a horse or wolf.
    "I'll eat whatever you have - I'm as hungry as a wolf!"
    
    
• as keen as mustard
  • If someone is as keen as mustard, they are very eager, enthusiastic or motivated.
    "We should ask Emily to join the team. She's as keen as mustard."
    
    
• as large as life
  • The expression as large as life is used to describe surprise at seeing someone.
    "I thought Emma had moved to New York, and there she was, as large as life ! "
    
    
• as light as a feather
  • Someone or something that is as light as feather is extremely light or weighs very little.
    "The jacket looked heavy but in fact it was as light as a feather ! "
    
    
• 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 nice as pie
  • If a person is as nice as pie, they are surprisingly kind and friendly.
    "Surprisingly, after our argument, she was as nice as pie!"
    
    
• as nutty as a fruitcake
  • Someone who is (as) nutty as a fruitcake is insane or crazy.
    "Don't pay attention to what the old man says; he's as nutty as a fruitcake!"
    
    
• 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."
    
    
• proud/pleased as punch
  • Someone who is as proud or pleased as punch is delighted or feels very satisfied about something.
    "Dad was as proud as punch when he won the tennis match."