Category: Like …

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 be) like watching paint dry.

We use this phrase to describe an event or an activity that is very boring, dull, tedious or uninteresting.  It doesn’t hold our attention.

E.g.  I had heard that the new film was supposed to be really good but I didn’t like it at all.  Nothing happened! It was just so boring.  It was like watching paint dry.

(To be) like a bad dream.

If something is like a bad dream, it is so awful or unbelievable that it does not seem true or real.  It is so unpleasant that you find it hard to believe.

E.g.  The terrible events of yesterday still seem like a bad dream, but unfortunately they are true.  I hope those affected can fully recover.

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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

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 be) like one of the family.

This is used to describe a person (or animal) that is so liked and loved that they are treated as an actual member of the family.

E.g.  We’ve known him for years.  We treat him just like one of the family.

Like (two) peas in a pod.

This is used to describe people who are very similar either in appearance, behaviour or character.

E.g. I can’t believe they are not sisters.  They are like two peas in a pod.

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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 be) like pulling teeth.

This phrase is used to describe something that is very difficult, tedious, labourious and / or takes a lot of effort to get it done.

E.g.  It was like pulling teeth getting the board to agree but we persuaded them in the end and the budget has finally been approved.

Like night and day.

If two things are like night and day, they are completely different.

E.g.  Compared to last year her school grades are like night and day.  She has really made an effort to study hard and her grades have improved a lot.

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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 be like a kid in a candy store.  (This is usually heard in American English.)

This is used to describe someone who is so excited by the location they find themselves in that they start behaving in a silly or childish way.  Their behaviour is not as restricted as it normally would be.

E.g.  He’s a massive car racing fan.  When he won tickets to go behind the scenes of a race and meet some of the drivers he was like a kid in a candy store.  He was so excited all day.

Like a shot.

If something happens like it shot, it happens very quickly or rapidly.  It is done willingly with no hesitation.

E.g.  If I got offered a job abroad, I’d be off like a shot.

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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 have a face like a wet weekend.

If you have a face like a wet weekend, you look very unhappy or miserable.

E.g.  Poor Simon has been walking around all morning with a face like a wet weekend.  Apparently his girlfriend dumped him at the weekend.

(To be) like a kid with a new toy.

This is used to describe someone who is (excessively) excited about something.  It’s usually, but not always, an object they have got / acquired.

E.g.  Whenever he gets a new phone, he’s like a kid with a new toy.  He never puts it down!

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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.

(There’s) no time like the present.

This is used when you want to say that something should be done sooner rather than later.  It should be done now or as soon as possible.

E.g.  “When do you want me to start work on the presentation?”

        “Well, there’s no time like the present.  Why don’t you start on it now?”

Too much like hard work.

We use this when we want to say that the task or activity is so difficult, tiring or strenuous that we no longer want to do it.

E.g. I like the idea of regularly cooking a 3 course meal but it’s just too much like hard work with all the preparation and cleaning up afterwards.  We regularly go to restaurants instead.

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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 go/run like clockwork.

If something goes/runs like clockwork it proceeds or progresses smoothly, as predicted or planned and without problems.

E.g.  Because the conference had been so well planned it went like clockwork.  Everything went well and we go lots of good feedback.

Like a duck to water.

This is used to describe a situation where a person is able to do something new very easily or without problems. They adapt quickly as if it was innate.  (It often implies a sense of fun or enjoyment.)

E.g.  I wasn’t sure if she would like learning to dance but she’s taken to it like a duck to water.  She practises every day and she’s doing really well. 

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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 be like a deer caught in the headlights.

This is used to describe a situation where a person is visibly startled and looks so frightened that they are frozen with fear.  The person cannot move or think properly.

E.g.  After completing his presentation he was asked some really difficult questions.  It was very stressful for him and he looked like a deer caught in the headlights the whole time.

To be running around like a headless chicken.

If someone is running around like a headless chicken, they are very busy, moving very quickly but not being very efficient or effective with their time.  They are disorganized and not thinking calmly or logically.

E.g.  The whole event was so badly organized.  Nobody knew who was in charge, or who to talk to when there was a problem.  They were all just running around like headless chickens!

Have fun learning English!

Louise

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 watch someone / something like a hawk.

If someone watches another person like a hawk, they are watching very carefully and paying close attention, usually to make sure the other person does nothing wrong.

E.g.  During the exam, the teachers were watching like hawks to make sure the children didn’t cheat.

Like lightning.

If someone does something like lightning, they do it extremely fast.

E.g.  She ran like lightning all the way there to make sure she was first.

Have fun learning English!

Louise