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WHAT IS A SIMILE ?

A simile is a figure of speech that says that one thing is like another different thing. We can use similes to make descriptions more emphatic or vivid.

We often use the words as...as and like with similes.

Common patterns for similes, with example sentences, are:

• something [is*] AS adjective AS something
  

1. His skin was as cold as ice.
   
2. It felt as hard as rock.
   
3. She looked as gentle as a lamb.
   

• something [is*] LIKE something.
  

1. My love is like a red, red rose.
   
2. These cookies taste like garbage.
   
3. He had a temper (that was) like a volcano.
   

• something [does**] LIKE something.
  

1. He eats like a pig.
   
2. He smokes like a chimney.
   
3. They fought like cats and dogs.
   

* stative verb: be, feel, smell, taste etc
** action verb.