English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
COMPARISONS - SIMILARITY, page 6
Idioms
from:
'like pulling teeth' to: 'like two peas in a pod'
- like pulling teeth
- Something that is like pulling teeth is extremely difficult
to obtain, especially if trying to extract information from someone.
"Getting him to talk about his job was like pulling teeth!"
- Something that is like pulling teeth is extremely difficult
to obtain, especially if trying to extract information from someone.
- like a red flag 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!"
- 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.
- like a shot
- If you do something like a shot,
you do it very quickly, without any hesitation.
"If I won a lot of money on the lotto, I'd leave my job like a shot!"
- If you do something like a shot,
you do it very quickly, without any hesitation.
- 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."
- If something sticks out like a sore thumb, it is
very obvious or visible in an unpleasant way.
- 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!"
- To say that something is like taking candy from a baby
means that it is very easy to do.
- 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."
- Doing something that is unnecessary or of no use at all
is said to be like taking sand to the beach.
- 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."
- 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.
- 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."
- 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.
- 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."
- Someone who acts like a thief in the night does something
secretly or in an unexpected manner.
- 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!"
- If somebody comes down on you like a ton of bricks,
they criticize you severely because you have done something wrong.
- 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."
- 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.
- 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!"
- Two people who are like two peas in a pod are very similar
in appearance.
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Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.