Appendix:English similes

The following is an alphabetical list of common similes used in English.

Generic similes
Used as intensifiers with a wide range of adjectives

Some use intensifiers with a broader range of applications; often taboo words or euphemistic substitutes:
 * as/like the devil/the dickens
 * as/like/than fuck/hell/shit

Some are specifically similes:
 * as the day is long
 * as all get-out
 * as you fancy
 * as you like
 * as you please
 * as you wish
 * like/as billy-oh

With as

 * as bald as a coot
 * as bent as a nine-bob note
 * as big as a whale
 * as black as the ace of spades
 * as blind as a bat
 * as bold as brass
 * as bright as a button
 * as busy as a beaver
 * as busy as a bee
 * as calm as a millpond
 * as calm as a dove
 * as cheap as chips
 * as chirpy as a cricket
 * as clean as a whistle
 * as clear as a bell
 * as clear as crystal
 * as clear as day
 * as clear as mud - sarcasm, not clear at all!
 * as cold as a witch’s tit
 * as cold as ice
 * as common as muck
 * as cool as a cucumber
 * as crazy as a loon
 * as cute as a bug's ear
 * as cute as a button
 * as daft as a brush
 * as dead as a doornail
 * as dead as a dodo
 * as dead as a doorknob
 * as deaf as a post
 * as different as chalk and cheese
 * as different as night and day
 * as drunk as a lord
 * as drunk as a sailor
 * as drunk as a skunk
 * as dry as a bone
 * as dumb as a box of rocks
 * as dumb as dirt
 * as easy as ABC
 * as easy as falling off a log
 * as easy as pie
 * as fat as a pig
 * as fat as a fool
 * as fit as a butcher's dog
 * as fit as a fiddle
 * as flat as a pancake
 * as free as a bird
 * as free as the wind
 * as fresh as a daisy
 * as gentle as a lamb
 * as good as gold
 * as good as one's word
 * as happy as a clam
 * as happy as the day is long
 * as happy as a lark
 * as happy as Larry
 * as happy as a pig in mud
 * as happy as a pig in shit
 * as happy as a sandboy
 * as hard as nails
 * as hard as a rock
 * as high as a Georgia pine - intoxicated
 * as high as a kite - giddy / intoxicated
 * as hot as blazes
 * as hot as fire
 * as keen as mustard
 * as light as a feather
 * as lively as a cricket
 * as long as my arm
 * as loose as a goose
 * as mad as a bear with a sore head
 * as mad as a hatter
 * as meek as a lamb
 * as meek as a mouse
 * as merry as a cricket
 * as merry as a grig
 * as neat as a new pin
 * as nutty as a fruit cake - crazy
 * as old as the hills
 * as phony as a three-dollar bill
 * as pissed as a newt - drunk
 * as plain as day
 * as plain as the nose on your face
 * as pleased as Punch
 * as poor as a church mouse
 * as pretty as a picture
 * as proud as a peacock
 * as puffy as a cloud
 * as pure as the driven snow
 * as queer as a three-dollar bill
 * as queer as a clockwork orange
 * as quiet as a mouse
 * as quick as a flash
 * as quick as lightning
 * as quick as thought
 * as quick as a wink
 * as rare as hen's teeth
 * as rare as rocking-horse shit
 * as red as a beetroot
 * as right as rain
 * as right as a trivet
 * as serene as the sea
 * as sharp as a tack - intelligent
 * as sick as a dog
 * as sick as a parrot
 * as silent as the grave
 * as slippery as an eel
 * as slow as molasses
 * as sly as a fox
 * as smart as a whip
 * as smooth as a baby's bottom
 * as smooth as butter
 * as smooth as oil
 * as smooth as silk
 * as snug as a bug in a rug
 * as sober as a judge
 * as soft as silk
 * as solid as a rock
 * as sound as a bell
 * as steady as a rock
 * as straight as an arrow
 * as straight as a die
 * as strong as an ox
 * as stubborn as a mule
 * as sure as eggs is eggs
 * as sure as you're born
 * as surefooted as a mountain goat
 * as sweet as candy
 * as sweet as a nut - easy / straightforward
 * as sweet as pie
 * as swift as a deer
 * as thick as thieves — friendly
 * as thick as two short planks — stupid
 * as thin as a rail
 * as thin as a rake
 * as tight as a drum
 * as tight as a duck's arse — thrifty
 * as timid as a mouse
 * as timid as a rabbit
 * as tough as nails
 * as tough as old boots
 * as ugly as sin
 * as useful as a chocolate teapot - sarcasm, implies utterly useless
 * as useful as tits on a bull
 * as warm as toast
 * as welcome as the flowers in May
 * as white as a sheet — pale from fright
 * as white as snow
 * as wise as an owl

With than

 * better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick
 * better than sex
 * no better than one ought to be
 * deader than disco
 * larger than life
 * more than you can shake a stick at
 * rarer than rocking horse shit

With before

 * before you can say Jack Robinson
 * before you can say knife

Similes with like

 * like a bat out of hell
 * like a bear with a sore head
 * like a bull in a china shop
 * like a cat on a hot tin roof
 * like a chicken with its head cut off
 * like a duck takes to water
 * like a lamb to the slaughter
 * like a ton of bricks
 * like the clappers
 * like the wind
 * like there's no tomorrow
 * like two peas in a pod

Complement-specific

 * hung like a horse
 * out like a light

Noun-specific

 * a mind like a sieve

Verb-specific

 * cry like a baby
 * cut like a knife
 * drop like flies
 * drink like a fish
 * eat like a bird
 * eat like a pig
 * fit like a glove
 * fly like a bird
 * fuck like rabbits
 * get on like a house on fire
 * grin like a Cheshire cat
 * grow like Topsy
 * laugh like a drain
 * laugh like a hyena
 * leak like a sieve
 * lie like a rug
 * look like the back end of a bus
 * look like death warmed over
 * read someone like a book
 * run around like a headless chicken
 * sing like a bird
 * sink like a stone
 * swear like a trooper
 * swim like a fish
 * sweat like a pig
 * watch like a hawk