SIMILE

Simile comes from the Latin word similis which means something similar and that is
basically what a simile is. It is a comparison between two things that are different but
may seem similar in a way. It is different from metaphor as it does not say that
something is exactly like something else (like metaphor), instead it just makes a direct
comparison of the similarities.
For example Those two are like two peas in a pod; sometimes they even say the
same things. Here the comparison is made between two people being very similar in
thought and action, the way that peas are nearly identical to one another.
There are no specific rules of simile construction in the English language; it depends
entirely on your imagination and creativity. The only thing you must make sure of is to
compare two things that may have a similar look or feel, etc..
Generally the prepositions like and as are used to form similes :
She is as graceful as a ballerina.
His voice is like the lions roar.
Apart from these, there are also many similes that dont use as or like in their
formation, these are called submerged similes :
Happier than a kid in Candy Land.
Wetter than a fish in water.
Here are a few popular similes commonly in use today to give you a better idea of their
meanings and usage -

As blind as a bat

An exaggeration used to show someone who is unable to see

clearly

Eats like a bird

Comparing eating habits to that of a bird who supposedly eats

very little

As pure as snow

Comparing a persons character to fresh snow (white and pure)

As strong as an ox

Someone having great strength

SIMILES EXERCISE 1
Choose the correct meaning of the word from the four options:

1. As cool as a ______.

cucumber

apple

orange

2. As good as _____.

gold

iron

diamond

3. As dry as a ______.

bone

stone

drone

4. As white as ____.

salt
snow

5. As thin as ______.

sugar

rubber

paper

plate

6. As easy as _____.

1-2-3

A-B-C

7. As free as a ______.

animal

ant

bird

8. As light as a ______.

weather

feather

9. As safe as a _____.

house

hotel

guest house

10. As slow as a _____.

tortoise

SIMILES EXERCISE 2

rabbit

Choose the correct meaning of the word from the four options:

1. As tall as a ____.

zebra

giraffe

2. As smooth as ______.

silk

milk

3. As black as ______.

mole

coal

hair

4. As busy as a _____.

sea

bee

5. As brave as a/an _____.

lion

elephant

6. As sly as a/an _____.

ox

fox

7. As old as the ______.

mills

hills

8. As silent as the _____.

alive

dead

sleep

9. As tough as _____.

stone

nails

snails

10. As sweet as ______.

honey

money

SIMILES EXERCISE 3
Choose the correct meaning of the word from the four options:

1. As deadly as a _____.

cobra

crocodile

2. As big as a _____.

car

bus

train

3. As peaceful as a _____.

toy

mall

lake

4. As sour as _____.

sugar

vinegar

curd

5. As quick as ____.

lightning

whitening

6. As proud as a _____.

hen

peacock

7. As stiff as a _____.

road

board

8. As stubborn as a _____.

mule

horse

9. As timid as a _____.

rat

rabbit

10. As clear as ____.

crystal

water

IDIOMS

An idiom is an expression whose meaning is different from the meaning of its constituent words.
Knowledge of idioms is an important part of comprehension of the English language. Below is a
list of some commonly used idioms in English with their meanings and usage.

TURN OVER A NEW LEAF

Changing for the better

After Ajit was released from prison, he decided to turn over a new leaf and become an honest
man.

PULL UP ONES SOCKS

To make an effort to improve

Idioms Exercise 1
Rajesh scored only forty on his English mid-term exams. He needs to pull up his socks
if he wants to do well in his finals.
HIT BELOW THE BELT

To act in an unfair manner

The candidate of the opposition party spread false rumours about the Minister. People
felt that he was hitting below the belt.
GIFT OF THE GAB

The ability to speak well

Pooja was able to keep the audiences amused with her stories. She surely has the gift of the gab.

WILD GOOSE CHASE

Futile search

Searching for hidden gold in the village field is nothing but a wild goose chase.

HAVE SECOND THOUGHTS

Reconsider a decision

Rajiv began to have second thoughts about his decision to study Economics when he
realised that he could not even pay attention during the lectures.
TAKE TO TASK

To reprimand someone

Payal was taken to task by her mother when she failed her Mathematics exam.
FACE THE MUSIC

To face the consequences of ones

action

I lost my fathers pen. I will have to face the music when I reach home.

BREAK THE ICE

Overcome initial shyness

The teacher asked the students to introduce themselves to each other to break the ice.

MAKE A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A

MOLEHILL

To give great importance to minor

things

Manoj stopped talking to Rupa because she did not lend him her notebook. I think he is making a
mountain out of a molehill.

AT LOGGERHEADS

To differ strongly

The two brothers can never work together. They are always at loggerheads.

MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES

Make the best of a good situation

while it lasts

Mr. Sharma got the big contract to supply machine parts to a big Japanese company. He
should make hay while the sun shines.

LET BYGONES BE BYGONES

Ignore the bad things of the past

We have not spoken to each other since the time we had a fight a few months back. We
should let bygones be bygones and become friends again.

HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD

Be exact or accurate

Ram is a genius. He hit the nail on the head when he said that the car was overheating because
of a leaking radiator.

THROW IN THE TOWEL

To accept defeat

I am unable to solve this question. I am ready to throw in the towel.

NO STONE UNTURNED

Make all possible efforts

Ramesh has joined two coaching classes. He is leaving no stone unturned in his efforts
to get into an engineering college.
BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN
ONES MOUTH

To be born in a very rich family

Priya was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. Her father gave her an expensive car on her
eighteenth birthday.

KEEP ONES FINGERS CROSSED

Hope for a positive outcome

My results will come out day after tomorrow. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

BY HOOK OR BY CROOK

Using any means, fair or foul

There is a cricket match tomorrow. Raj will make sure he gets the day off from office by hook or
by crook.

BURN ONES FINGERS

Suffer for something that one has

done

I will never bet again. I burnt my fingers betting at the race course today.

Idioms 2
Choose the correct meaning of the idiom from the four options
1. To end in smoke

Smoking too many cigarettes

House burnt down

Face failure

Religious ceremony

2. To get into hot waters

Bathe in the winter months

To get healthy

To get rich

To get into trouble

3. To make ends meet

A short story

To earn enough to live

To skip classes

To be an expert

4. Bolt from the blue

Sudden shock

To get punched

To lose a tight game

To ask for help

5. To burn the candle at both ends

To argue endlessly

Long power cut

To work long hours

To have a good time

6. To bury the hatchet

To end enmity

To kill someone

To hide stolen treasure

To overexert

7. To spill the beans

To eat clumsily

To reveal a secret

To get exhausted

To fight

8. To lead someone up the garden path

To give directions

To show a beautiful place

To mislead someone

To exaggerate

9. To weather a storm

To criticize someone

To survive a crisis

To be an introvert

To guess correctly

10. To bite ones lip

To be unsure

To feel sorry at someones plight

To not react despite being angry

To laugh at someones misfortune

METAPHOR

A metaphor is a figure of speech that uses an image, a story or a tangible example to

express a quality or qualities possessed by a person or thing, or to represent a less
tangible thing; e.g. Her face shone like the sun. With this broad definition, the
metaphor subsumes within itself a number of other figures of speech: metonymy,
synecdoche, synonym, catachresis, parable, etc. All conform to the basic framework of
a figure of speech that achieves its objective by comparison, association or
representation.

Let us analyse a metaphorical statement:

The school was a prison for him.

What does this mean? It obviously does not mean that the school was literally a prison,
for that is ludicrous. It is immediately comprehensible, however, that the school shares
certain characteristics with prisons. It is probable that the person referred to as him
feels locked up in school, as prisoners do in prison. The meanings of metaphors, while
sometimes simple, are best understood in context.

Here are some famous metaphors. See if you can figure out their meanings.

All the worlds a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their
exits and their entrances- William Shakespeare.

Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life-Pablo Picasso.

All our words are but crumbs that fall down from the feast of the mind-Khalil Gibran.

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who
make our souls blossom-Marcel Proust.

PROVERBS
A proverb is a saying that can be one or two lines long, which is generally known among the
people. A proverb expresses truth, wisdom or a lesson on morality based upon common sense
and practical experience. Every culture in the world have their own heritage of proverbs that are
often spread to other cultures as well, an example of this is the Bible which has spread many
proverbs among its followers around the world.
Here we have listed out some of the most common proverbs and their meaning.

1.

"A chain is only as strong as its weakest link."

A team or group is only as strong as its weakest member. If a person is not performing in a
group, the whole group will suffer.

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

A picture or photograph can often convey a message in a more empathetic way than just words.

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."

People have a tendency to think more often about someone who is away from them, making
them feel fonder of the other person.

"Actions speak louder than words."

Actually doing an action has more impact than simply speaking about it again and again.

"All good things must come to an end."

No one can stay happy forever, eventually some hurdle or event will temporarily or permanently
end a good streak.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Everyone has a different perception of beauty and thus their definition of what can be considered
beautiful also differs.

"Better late than never."

It is better to arrive somewhere later than planned rather than to not arrive at all.

"Birds of a feather flock together."

People with similar tastes often form a group for company or discussion.

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

Dont make plans based on something that has not happened yet or something that has not been
achieved yet.

"Easy come, easy go.

This phrase is used when you spend or lose something that had come to you without much effort
on your part.

"Fortune favors the bold."

People who have the courage to follow their plans, even when faced with obstacles, are often
successful. A saying used to encourage someone.

"Good things come to those who wait."

One should wait patiently for the things they want and not rush after them.

"Honesty is the best policy."

It is better to tell the truth in a situation rather than a lie.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

If something is going well or working properly, it should be left as it is and should not be
interfered with.

"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."

It is better to do the work yourself than rely on someone else and not be sure of the results.

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

Know your enemies even better than you know your friends to vanquish them. Its also used to
mean make an appearance of friendship with an enemy to blindside them later.

"People who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others."

It means to say that a person should not criticize others when they themselves have similar
faults or are not completely faultless.

"Practice makes perfect."

The best way to hone a skill or make one better at something is to practice it relentlessly.

"The early bird catches the worm."

Starting the day early and getting to your work earlier is more beneficial to a person.

"The pen is mightier than the sword."

Exchange of ideas and information is a better way to settle disputes or convince someone than
using force and violence.

"Two heads are better than one."

Sometimes two people can come up with a solution to a problem that could not be solved by one
person. Better to have help on a problem that you cannot solve by yourself.

"Two wrongs don't make a right."

Doing something bad to a person who has wronged you will not negate the wrong that person
did. You cannot do something wrong just because someone else did and was not punished.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans."

It is better to follow the customs and behavior of the people around you, when you are in an
unknown area or society.

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going."

When difficulties arise, strong determined people just work harder rather than giving up.

"You can't judge a book by its cover."

Do not judge things by the way they appear, their actual nature or function might be completely
different.
These are some of the common proverbs that exist in the two main English speaking countries of
the United Kingdom and the United States of America. However many proverbs from other
cultures have been translated to English and have gained popularity among the people, here are
10 of them that we like best 1. A dimple on the chin, the devil within - Gaelic proverb
A superstitious proverb based on physical appearance, where having a chin indent signifies that a
person is wicked or deceitful.
2. To make the tea cloudy - Japanese proverb
It means to be evasive or non-committal about something, it comes from Japanese wedding and
tea rituals.
3. A drink precedes a story - Irish proverb
When a man is inebriated, they are more likely to tell the stories or occurrences that they
normally wouldnt if they were sober.
4. He who buys what he does not need, steals from himself. - Swedish proverb
A person should spend only on essential or necessary items and avoid frivolous expenses.
5.An axe forgets what the tree remembers. - African proverb
It is easy for someone who is hurting another person to forget the wrong and move on but the
person who was hurt never forgets.
6. The eyes believe themselves, the ears believe other people. - German proverb
Do not believe everything that everyone says to you, trust your own judgement or wait to see
something with your own eyes before believing someone.
7. A clear conscience is a soft pillow. - French proverb
If a person is guilty of some wrongdoing, their guilty conscience will let them have no rest, while
an innocent person will be peaceful and calm.
8. To call a man a thief gives him the right to be one. - Old Arabic proverb
Treating someone in an unfair or cruel way will ensure a similar behaviour from them in the
future.
9. Opportunity knocks only once. - Spanish proverb
Always seize an opportunity when it comes your way as you may not get another chance at it.
10.Your elbow is close but you cant bite it. - Russian proverb
A way to express when someone is physically present but emotionally distant or when something
can be seen but is just beyond your reach.