English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions
COMPARISONS - SIMILARITY, page 7
Idioms
from:
'like water off a duck's back' to: 'worlds apart'
- 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."
- Criticism or comments which have no effect on someone is referred to
as being '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!"
- 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.
- 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."
- If something such as news, rumours or gossip spreads like wildfire,
it becomes widely known very fast.
- much of a muchness
- This expession means 'very similar' or 'almost alike'.
"It's hard to choose between the two - they're much of a muchness really."
- This expession means 'very similar' or 'almost alike'.
- (not) 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."
- If two people are cut from the same cloth, they are
very similar in character or behaviour.
- not a patch on
- If something or someone is not a
patch on an other, they are not nearly as good.
"His second conference was not a patch on the first one."
- If something or someone is not a
patch on an other, they are not nearly as good.
- not in the same league as
- If something is not in the same league, it is of
much lower standard than something else.
"He had a good voice but he wasn't in the same league as Pavarotti."
- If something is not in the same league, it is of
much lower standard than something else.
- 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 was not up to par."
- If something is not up to par,
it does not meet the required standard.
- a world of difference
- When comparing two things or situations, the expression
a world of difference means that there is a vast difference between them.
"A swimming pool would make a world of difference in this climate."
- When comparing two things or situations, the expression
a world of difference means that there is a vast difference between them.
- worlds apart
- When two people are very different, they
are said to be worlds apart.
"As regards our political opinions, we're worlds apart."
- When two people are very different, they
are said to be worlds apart.
More Idioms:
Comparisons - Similarity
Alphabetical lists:
Please note that British English spelling is used on this website.