There are many expressions commonly used in English to express similarity.
There is no magic rule to help you remember them. You just have to learn them. Sorry!
Take a look at the examples below.
To smoke like a chimney.
To smoke large amounts of cigars, pipes or cigarettes often and over a long period of time.
E.g. I don’t know how she made it to 93 as she used to smoke like a chimney.
(To be) like ships that pass in the night.
This is used to describe two or more people, who live together, who don’t see each other very often or who are not in the same place at the same time very often.
E.g. Since she started working the night shift they are like ships that pass in the night. She arrives home just after he leaves for work.
Have fun learning English!
Louise