Idioms as Comparisons


A common form that english idioms take is the figure of speech known as simile. A similes uses "like" or "as" to make a comparison between two unreleated things. These common english idioms compare people to animals.
For example "He is as fat as a pig"
This phrase means that the person is very fat, an attribute usually associated with a pig.

The format for these phrases is
As ___(Adjective)___ as a __(noun)__
The meaning of them is often "very (adjective)" in the case of the example being "very fat". The noun is often an object that exemplifies the adjective used in the phrase.

Work with a partner to discuss which adjectives should fit which animal and try to form them all into phrases following the model
As __(adjective)__ as a __(animal)__

Adjectives:

Blind
Busy
Gentle
Hungry
Quiet
Sick
Stubborn
Scared
Weak
Strong
Sly
| |

| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |

Animals:

Ox
Rabbit
Lamb
Mule
Kitten
Bat
Dog
Bear
Beaver
Fox
Mouse

Activity 1 Answers

Activity 2