Similes

What is a simile?

A simile is a comparison between two different things using the word like or as.

• Her hair was like silk.
• The baby slept like a log.
• He was as brave as a lion.
• The ice was as smooth as glass.

Similes are a kind of figurative language. They help readers picture something by connecting it to something familiar.

A trick to remember: Simile has an s, and so does as. Simile also sounds a bit like similar, and a simile shows how things are similar!

Why writers use similes

Similes make writing:

• Vivid. The puppy’s fur was soft is fine. The puppy’s fur was as soft as a cloud lets you almost feel it.
• Clear. Comparing to something familiar helps readers understand something new.
• Fun and memorable. He ate like a vacuum cleaner is funnier than He ate quickly.
• Full of feeling. She felt like a balloon about to pop shows nervousness or excitement.

Similes create imagery: pictures in the reader’s mind.

The two patterns

Pattern 1: like

[Thing] + [action or description] + like + [comparison]

• The cheetah ran like the wind.
• My heart pounded like a drum.
• The stars twinkled like tiny diamonds.

Pattern 2: as … as

as + [quality] + as + [comparison]

• as quiet as a mouse
• as light as a feather
• as cold as ice
• as busy as a bee

How to understand a simile

1. Find the two things being compared. The kids ran around like squirrels. → kids and squirrels.
2. Think about what they have in common. Squirrels are fast, energetic and dart around.
3. Say what the simile means. The kids were running around quickly and with lots of energy.
4. Notice the feeling it creates. It makes the scene playful and busy.

Similes and metaphors

Both compare two different things. The difference is the words like or as.

A metaphor says one thing is the other. A simile says it is like the other.

Not every “like” makes a simile

A simile compares two different kinds of things.

• My sister looks like my mom. This is not a simile; both are people, so it is just a literal comparison.
• My sister sings like a bird. This is a simile: a person is compared to a bird.
• I like pizza. Not a simile; like means “enjoy” here.

Similes in stories and poems

Authors use similes to describe:

• Characters: Her laugh was like a bubbling brook.
• Settings: The fog rolled in like a thick grey blanket.
• Actions: The leaves danced like ballerinas in the wind.
• Feelings: Waiting for the results felt like a hundred years.

When you read, notice similes and ask why the author chose that comparison.

Fresh similes vs. clichés

Some similes are used so often they are clichés: as busy as a bee, as cold as ice, as quiet as a mouse. They are easy to understand, but they do not surprise the reader.

Try creating fresh similes:

• Cliché: as quiet as a mouse
• Fresh: as quiet as snow falling on a field
• Cliché: as hungry as a bear
• Fresh: as hungry as a teenager after hockey practice

How to write a great simile

1. Choose what you want to describe. The thunderstorm.
2. Decide what quality to show. It was loud and scary.
3. Brainstorm things with that quality. A lion’s roar, a giant stomping, a drum, a train.
4. Choose the most vivid one. The thunder boomed like a giant stomping across the sky.
5. Read it aloud. Does it help the reader see and feel your idea?

Common mistakes

• Comparing two of the same kind of thing. My dog is like my neighbour’s dog is not a simile.
• Confusing “like” meaning “enjoy.”
• Using a simile that does not fit. The snow was as hot as fire confuses readers (unless you are being funny on purpose!).
• Using too many similes. One or two strong similes are better than ten weak ones.

Try it yourself

1. Underline the simile: The old car groaned like a tired giant as it climbed the hill.
2. What does it mean? Her eyes sparkled like stars.
3. Is this a simile? My brother is taller than my dad.
4. Finish the simile with a fresh comparison: The classroom was as noisy as ____.
5. Turn this metaphor into a simile: The moon was a lantern in the sky.

Answers: 1. like a tired giant. 2. Her eyes were bright and shining. 3. No; it compares two people literally. 4. Example: a soccer stadium after a winning goal. 5. The moon was like a lantern in the sky.

Study tip

Keep a “simile collection” in your notebook. Each time you read a great simile, copy it down. Then write one of your own using the same pattern but a different topic.

Quick recap

• A simile compares two different things using like or as.
• Similes create imagery and help readers understand and feel.
• Find the two things compared and what they share.
• Similes use like or as; metaphors say one thing is another.
• Try fresh similes instead of clichés.