English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions
Comparisons - Similarity
(as ... as / like)
(Idioms page 6 : like a taking sand to the
beach → like lipstick on a pig)
| 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 talking to a brick wall | To say that a conversation with someone
is like talking to brick wall means
that communication is impossible because
there is no reaction or response. I tried to discuss the problem with him but it was like talking to a brick wall. |
| like there's no tomorrow | If someone does something like
there's no tomorrow, they do it fast
and eagerly, 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 | Two people who are
like two peas in a pod are very similar
in appearance. The two brothers are very alike - they're like two peas in a pod! |
| like water off a duck's back | Criticism or comments which have no
effect on someone is referred to as being
''like water off a duck's back'. He's been 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 to 'dress up'
something unappealing or ugly, in a vain
attempt to make it look better, is like
putting lipstick on a pig. Flowers on that ugly old bridge would be (like putting) lipstick on a pig! |
| like wildfire | If something such as news, rumours or
gossip spreads like wildfire, it
becomes widely known very fast. As soon as the nomination was announced, the news spread like wildfire. |
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