80+ Simile Examples That Hit Like a Ton of Bricks (+ Definition)

Do you want simile examples to boost your writing?
Are you searching for one thing that provides polish to your prose?
Nicely, you’re in luck.
Similes are simply the instrument you should make your writing extra colourful and interesting.
And that will help you out, we’ve pulled collectively an in depth listing of swipe-worthy simile examples to assist spark your creativity.
Let’s get began.
Table of Contents
- What’s a Simile?
- Why Use Similes?
- What’s the Distinction Between Simile and Metaphor?
- Similes vs Comparisons: Is There a Distinction?
- Simile Examples in Literature
- 1984 by George Orwell
- Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
- Little Ladies by Louisa Could Alcott
- Horseradish by Lemony Snicket
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- Simile Examples in Music
- Rapper’s Delight by The Sugarhill Gang
- I’m Like a Chook by Nelly Furtado
- Straightforward by Lionel Richie
- Halo by Beyoncé
- Diamonds by Rihanna
- It’s My Life by Bon Jovi
- A Laborious Day’s Night time by The Beatles
- Candle within the Wind by Elton John
- Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran
- Simile Examples in Poetry
- Daffodils by William Wordsworth
- Harlem by Langston Hughes
- A Birthday by Christina Rossetti
- Spring is Like a Maybe Hand by E.E. Cummings
- Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
- Simile Examples in Movie & TV
- State Farm commercials
- Shrek
- Step Brothers
- Discovering Nemo
- The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
- Widespread Examples of Simile (From Life, Love, & On a regular basis Speech)
- Which Simile Examples Will You Use?
What’s a Simile?
A simile is a determine of speech used to check two objects or ideas with each other utilizing the phrases “like” or “as”. The objects are often dissimilar sufficient that the comparability is shocking.
For instance, take a look at this sentence:
She swaddled the child till he was as cosy as a bug in a rug is a simile.
It compares swaddling the child to being wrapped snugly like a “bug in a rug.”
The comparability stands out as a result of we’re evaluating the child (cute and cuddly) to a bug (not so cute and cuddly).
Why Use Similes?
Right here’s one thing you most likely didn’t know:
The phrase “simile” comes from the Latin phrase similis that means related or like.
Now that we bought that out of that means, let’s dive a little deeper into why we use similes within the first place.
So, a simile is used usually to:
- Make a comparability
- Categorical an emotion
- Create a vivid psychological picture for the reader
In different phrases:
Similes assist you to paint a image in your reader.
Take into consideration our earlier instance of She swaddled the child till he was as cosy as a bug in a rug.
You could possibly as a substitute say She wrapped the child tightly in his blanket.
Positive, that describes a swaddled child. However it doesn’t paint a image of a child lovingly wrapped in a gentle, cozy blanket, so he’s heat and protected.
And that, my mates, is the ability of figurative language.
What’s the Distinction Between Simile and Metaphor?
Folks typically confuse similes and the almighty metaphor.
You most likely know the distinction between these two literary gadgets, but when not, let’s recap simile vs metaphor:
- A simile will at all times make the comparability utilizing the phrases like or as.
- Metaphors use a direct comparability.
Life is a curler coaster is a metaphor instance.
Life is like a rollercoaster is a simile instance.
Similes vs Comparisons: Is There a Distinction?
Similes are typically confused with easy comparisons.
Your daughter appears similar to you is an specific comparability, not a simile, although it makes use of the phrase like. Evaluating a little one’s look to that of a dad or mum isn’t uncommon, so it’s not a true simile.
(Keep in mind: a true simile compares two dissimilar issues utilizing like or as).
Your daughter has a smile as shiny as sunshine could be a comparability utilizing a simile as a result of a smile and sunshine are two completely various things.
Simile Examples in Literature
You’ll discover numerous examples of similes in literature – which is sensible as a result of, properly, it’s literature.
Now, one of essentially the most well-known simile examples may be a line from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens:
Previous Marley was as useless as a doornail.
Such imagery, proper?
Let’s dissect this:
How can a particular person be as useless as an inanimate object?
Nicely, it’s not doable. However that’s not the purpose. The large concept right here is how Dickens in contrast Previous Marley’s present residing standing (deceased, in case you forgot) to one thing that wasn’t alive within the first place.
In different phrases:
Previous Marley is very a lot useless.
However simply saying that he’s useless isn’t very entertaining (it’s unhappy, actually). So to reinforce the comparability and create a extra vivid image of Marley’s present state (once more, deceased) Dickens makes use of a simile.
Let’s dive into some extra simile examples in literature:
1984 by George Orwell
He sat as nonetheless as a mouse, within the futile hope that whoever it was may go away after a single try.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Is love a tender factor? It’s too tough, too impolite, too boisterous, and it pricks like a thorn.
Little Ladies by Louisa Could Alcott
Like bees swarming after their queen, mom and daughters hovered about Mr. March the subsequent day, neglecting every part to take a look at, wait upon, and take heed to the brand new invalid, who was in a honest strategy to be killed by kindness.
Horseradish by Lemony Snicket
A library is like an island within the center of a huge sea of ignorance, significantly if the library could be very tall and the encompassing space has been flooded.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
The ache is like an axe that chops my coronary heart.
Simile Examples in Music
Musicians are masters of utilizing similes to precise feelings and paint photos for the listener.
Let’s take a take a look at a few widespread examples.
(Be happy to sing alongside if you happen to’ve bought rhythm… And even if you happen to don’t).
Rapper’s Delight by The Sugarhill Gang
I don’t imply to brag, I don’t imply to boast
However we like sizzling butter on a breakfast toast.
To be clear, they don’t seem to be saying that they like butter on their toast…although they might.
They’re saying they’re widespread and sought-after performers.
Let’s get this celebration rolling with much more examples of similes in music?
I’m Like a Chook by Nelly Furtado
I’m like a fowl, I’ll solely fly away.
I don’t know the place my soul is (soul is)I don’t know the place my house is
And child all I would like so that you can know is
I’m like a fowl
I’ll solely fly away
Straightforward by Lionel Richie
That’s why I’m straightforward
I’m straightforward like Sunday morning
That’s why I’m straightforward
I’m straightforward like Sunday morning
Halo by Beyoncé
Hit me like a ray of solar
Burning by way of my darkest evening
You’re the one one which I need
Assume I’m hooked on your mild
Diamonds by Rihanna
Shine shiny like a diamond
Shine shiny like a diamond
Shining shiny like a diamond
We’re stunning like diamonds within the sky
It’s My Life by Bon Jovi
It’s my life
My coronary heart is just like the open freeway
Like Frankie mentioned, ‘I did it my means’
I simply wish to reside whereas I’m alive
It’s my life
A Laborious Day’s Night time by The Beatles
It’s been a arduous day’s evening, and I been working like a canine
It’s been a arduous day’s evening, I ought to be sleeping like a log
However after I get dwelling to you I discover the issues that you just do
Will make me really feel alright
Candle within the Wind by Elton John
And it appears to me you lived your life
Like a candle within the wind
By no means realizing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I’d’ve preferred to know you
However I used to be simply a child
Your candle burned out lengthy earlier than
Your legend ever did
Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran
In contact with the bottom
I’m on the hunt I’m after you
Odor like I sound, I’m misplaced in a crowd
And I’m hungry just like the wolf
Simile Examples in Poetry
Poetry is a good spot to make use of similes if you wish to paint evocative photos in your reader.
When folks talk about similes and poetry, A Pink, Pink Rose by Robert Burns is an often-used instance.
Learn how Burns compares his like to a pink rose and, later, a candy melody:
O my Luve is like a pink, pink rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is just like the melodies
That’s sweetly performed in tune.
Let’s discover a few extra examples of similes in poetry:
Daffodils by William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on excessive o’er vales and hills,
When abruptly I noticed a crowd,
A number, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the timber,
Fluttering and dancing within the breeze.
Harlem by Langston Hughes
What occurs to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin within the solar?
Or fester like a sore-
After which run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over-
like a syrupy candy?
Perhaps it simply sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
A Birthday by Christina Rossetti
My coronary heart is like a singing fowl
Whose nest is in a water’d shoot;
My coronary heart is like an apple tree
Whose boughs are bent with thickest fruit;
Spring is Like a Maybe Hand by E.E. Cummings
Spring is like a maybe hand
(which comes fastidiously
out of Nowhere) arranging
a window, into which individuals look (whereas
folks stare
arranging and altering putting
fastidiously there a unusual
factor and a recognized factor right here) and
altering every part fastidiously
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I’m wondering what you might be
Up above the world so excessive
Like a diamond within the sky.
Simile Examples in Movie & TV
The beloved film Forrest Gump has one of essentially the most well-known similes EVER:
Life is like a field of sweets. You by no means know what you’re gonna get.
There’s a related line from The Final Don, based mostly on the ebook by Mario Puzo (the man that wrote The Godfather):
Life is like a field of hand grenades. You by no means know what’s going to blow you to kingdom come.
Every of these similes is saying the identical factor:
We don’t know what life has in retailer for us.
However by evaluating life’s unknowns to sweets (and hand grenades), we get a extra relatable and memorable message… Perhaps not a lot with the hand grenades, however you get the concept.
If you happen to’d like a few extra examples of similes in Movie and TV, learn on!
State Farm commercials
Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.
Shrek
“…Ogres are like onions…They’ve layers.”
Step Brothers
“Your voice is like a mixture of Fergie and Jesus.”
Discovering Nemo
“I’m a fish with a nostril like a sword.”
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas
“You’re as cuddly as a cactus, you’re as charming as an eel.”
Widespread Examples of Simile (From Life, Love, & On a regular basis Speech)
Our on a regular basis speech is affected by similes. You most likely don’t understand how ceaselessly you utilize them as a result of they’re as frequent as pig tracks in moist climate or as ticks on a junkyard canine.
Listed here are some frequent similes utilizing as:
- sick as a canine
- straightforward as pie
- pleased as a clam
- cute as a button
- massive as a home
- robust as nails
- white as a ghost
- sizzling as hell
- nutty as a fruitcake
- clear as mud
- sturdy as an ox
- clear as a whistle
- snug as a mattress of nails
- totally different as evening and day
- skinny as a rail
- deep because the ocean
- dry because the desert
- strong as quicksand
- candy as sugar
Listed here are some frequent similes utilizing like:
- slept like a log
- fought like cats and canines
- like capturing fish in a barrel
- matches like a glove
- runs just like the wind
- develop like a weed
- like a metal lure
- like two peas in a pod
- flowed like a river
- swim like a fish
- busy like a bee
- slept like a child
- eats like a pig
- strikes like a snail
- cuts like butter
- leaks like a sieve
- soared like an eagle
- like a fish out of water
- works like a allure
- hurts just like the satan
And let’s not overlook these well-known quotes about life and love that use similes to reinforce their that means:
Love is like friendship caught on fireplace.Bruce Lee
Love is like a faucet; it turns on and off.Billie Vacation
Love is just like the wind, you possibly can’t see it however you possibly can really feel it.Nicholas Sparks
Life is like using a bicycle. To maintain your steadiness, you will need to hold transferring.Albert Einstein
Life is like writing with a pen. You may cross out your previous however you possibly can’t erase it.E.B. White
Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. The arms can’t hit what the eyes can’t see.Muhammad Ali
Dad and mom are like God since you wanna know they’re on the market, and also you need them to suppose properly of you, however you actually solely name if you want one thing.Chuck Palahniuk
Why do you sit there trying like an envelope with none deal with on it?Mark Twain
A room with out books is like a physique with out a soul.Marcus Tullius Cicero
Which Simile Examples Will You Use?
Similes are a highly effective literary system to make use of in your writing and we hope these nice examples impressed you.
Whether or not you’re writing a poem, memoirs, social media rants, or epic weblog posts, similes assist you to paint a image that pulls your reader into your story and makes your work a little extra fascinating.
Now that you just’ve bought all these examples in your writing arsenal, you’re poised to write down some of your finest work ever.
What similes are you excited to make use of in your subsequent piece of writing?